The VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program recently passed its Critical Design Review (CDR), Lockheed Martin announced on 25 July.
The milestone means that the programme to replace the presidential fleet of ageing Sikorsky VH-3D (Sea King) and VH-60N (Black hawk) helicopters with the Sikorsky S-92 can now proceed to assembly, test and evaluation.
As noted by Lockheed Martin, the CDR saw industry and the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) conduct an in-depth design review for the programme some two years after the USD1.24 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract was awarded to Sikorsky on 7 May 2014.
This EMD contract with production options was for the building of two test and 21 operational aircraft to replace the current 11 VH-3D and 8 VH-60N platforms. The two test helicopters are currently undergoing modification work at Sikorsky's Stratford plant in Connecticut. The first flight of a fully configured VH-92A is planned for 2017, with initial fielding in 2020. All 21 helicopters will be delivered by the end of 2023.
Once operational, the VH-92A will be supported in its presidential duties by the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, which entered service with the United States Presidential Flight Squadron (HMX-1) in May 2013. The 12 V-22s of HMX-1 will provide passenger and logistical support to the president's helicopter (Marine One).
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