Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot explained

The Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin VH-92 Patriot is an American helicopter now operational as the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. presidential transport fleet. It is a militarized variant of the Sikorsky S-92 and is larger than the former Marine One helicopters.[1]

Design and development

See also: VXX. Sikorsky entered the VH-92 variant of the S-92 into the VXX competition for U.S. presidential helicopter Marine One (replacing the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk), but lost to the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel.[2] [3] However, the competition was restarted in 2010 due to ballooning VH-71 development costs, allowing Sikorsky to resubmit the VH-92 in April 2010.[4] By mid-2013, all other aircraft manufacturers had dropped out of the contest, leaving only Sikorsky.[5]

On 7 May 2014, it was announced that the VH-92 had won the restarted VXX competition.[6] In May 2014, Sikorsky was awarded a US$1.24 billion contract to produce the VH-92, which is outfitted with an executive interior and military mission support systems, including triple electrical power and redundant flight controls. Six of the variant, designated VH-92A,[7] were ordered by the U.S. Navy for delivery in 2017.[8] Production of a further 17 aircraft was planned to begin in 2020.[9] The total FY2015 program cost is $4.718 billion for 23 helicopters, at an average cost of $205M per aircraft.[10] In July 2016, the design passed its Critical Design Review, clearing it for production.[11]

Operational history

On 28 July 2017, the first VH-92A performed its maiden flight at Sikorsky's Stratford, Connecticut facility.[12] [13] On 22 September 2018, a VH-92 was flown to the White House for take-off and landing tests at spots used for Marine One.[14]

In late November 2021, Pentagon officials noted the aircraft was "failing to meet the reliability, availability or maintainability threshold requirements" and that it had damaged landing zones with its exhaust and fuel leaks during test flights. The VH-92 had not yet entered service carrying VIPs.[15]

On 28 December 2021, the VH-92 achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) milestone.[16] However, the aircraft, named "Patriot" in 2022, was still unable to transport the president or vice president due to issues with its encrypted communications systems and its tendency to scorch the South Lawn of the White House.[17]

A VH-92 made its inaugural flight as Marine One on the afternoon of 19 August 2024, when President Joe Biden rode from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Soldier Field en route to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.[18]

Variants

Operators

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soule . Alexander . 12 July 2023 . Sikorsky remains White House helicopter of choice . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231123030723/https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/sikorsky-stratford-ct-helicopter-white-house-vh92a-18137467.php . 23 November 2023 . 23 November 2023 . CT Insider . en-US.
  2. Web site: 28 January 2005 . DoD Special Briefing on Award of Presidential Helicopter Contract . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091201095906/http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1675 . 1 December 2009 . Defense Link.
  3. Web site: Trimble . Stephen . 1 February 2005 . US101 snatches presidential prize . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220812061319/https://www.flightglobal.com/us101-snatches-presidential-prize/58682.article . 12 August 2022 . FlightGlobal.
  4. Web site: 19 April 2010 . Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Announce Teaming Agreement to Compete for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100501182906/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/041910_Sikorsky_LM_VXX_Teaming_Agreement.html . 1 May 2010 . Lockheed Martin.
  5. Web site: Drew . Christopher . 28 July 2013 . Few Suitors to Build a New Marine One . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216110228/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/business/few-suitors-to-build-a-new-marine-one.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 . 16 December 2023 . The New York Times.
  6. News: Majumdar . Dave . 7 May 2014 . Sikorsky Wins $1.24 Billion Contract for Presidential Helo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923080959/https://news.usni.org/2014/05/07/sikorsky-wins-xx-billion-contract-presidential-helo . 23 September 2023 . 7 May 2014 . U.S. Naval Institute.
  7. Web site: Contract Awarded Presidential Helicopter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215235348/https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/VH-92A . 15 December 2023 . 20 September 2014 . U.S. Naval Air Systems Command.
  8. Web site: Hemmerdinger . Jon . 8 May 2014 . Sikorsky wins US presidential helicopter contract . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220522033503/https://www.flightglobal.com/sikorsky-wins-us-presidential-helicopter-contract/113130.article . 22 May 2022 . FlightGlobal.
  9. News: Pierce . David . 7 May 2014 . This is the President's new $1.2 billion helicopter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103081630/https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/7/5692426/this-is-the-presidents-new-1-2-billion-helicopter . 3 January 2024 . 8 May 2014 . The Verge.
  10. Web site: March 2015 . GAO-15-342SP Defense Acquisitions Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807223825/https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-15-342sp.pdf#page=137 . 7 August 2023 . 16 July 2015 . U.S. Government Accountability Office . 129.
  11. Web site: Cavas . Christopher P. . 25 July 2016 . US Presidential Helo Moves to Production Phase . live . https://archive.today/20240112235623/https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2016/07/25/us-presidential-helo-moves-to-production-phase/ . 12 January 2024 . Defense News.
  12. Web site: 3 August 2017 . VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Achieves First Flight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230728073635/https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2017-08-03-VH-92A-Presidential-Helicopter-Achieves-First-Flight . 28 July 2023 . 27 November 2018 . Lockheed Martin.
  13. Web site: Werner . Ben . 7 August 2017 . VH-92A Presidential Helo Flies For the First Time . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212155413/https://news.usni.org/2017/08/07/vh-92a-presidential-helo-flies-first-time . 12 December 2023 . 27 November 2018 . U.S. Naval Institute.
  14. Web site: Check Out The New Presidential Helicopter Landing on the White House Lawn . Parsons . Dan . 20 November 2018 . Rotor & Wing International . 25 November 2018 . 5 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805185422/https://www.rotorandwing.com/2018/11/20/check-new-presidential-helicopter-landing-white-house-lawn/ . dead.
  15. News: Capaccio . Tony . Jacobs . Jennifer . 23 November 2021 . President's new helicopter hits setback: It's unreliable in a crisis, says Pentagon report . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211123173827/https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2021-11-23/marine-one-president-helicopter-unreliable-crisis-pentagon-3729794.html . 23 November 2021 . 28 November 2021 . Stars and Stripes.
  16. Web site: Burgess . Richard R. . 26 April 2022 . Marine Corps' New VH-92 Presidential Helicopter Achieves Initial Operational Capability . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216074525/https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-corps-new-vh-92-presidential-helicopter-achieves-initial-operational-capability/ . 16 December 2023 . 8 February 2023 . Seapower Magazine.
  17. Web site: Tegler . Eric . 30 December 2022 . Practice Hasn't Yet Made Perfect for the Next Presidential Helicopter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231014160920/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2022/12/30/practice-hasnt-yet-made-perfect-for-the-next-presidential-helicopter/?sh=333360ca2cf2 . 14 October 2023 . 8 February 2023 . Forbes.
  18. Web site: Madhani . Aamer . 19 August 2024. Biden takes inaugural flight in long-delayed new 'Marine One' helicopter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819204247/https://apnews.com/article/biden-presidential-helicopter-convention-marine-one-d260ca6dc141979003670189eaebe53b/ . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024 . Associated Press.
  19. Web site: 19 August 2024 . Biden takes first ride in new Marine One as Sikorsky wraps delivery .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.