Another five VH-92s ordered
On 5 February 2021, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of giant Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford (CT) was awarded a USD 478,6 million modification contract that exercises the option for the procurement of five Lot Three Low Rate Initial Production VH-92A. The contract, as part of the in the US Presidential Helicopters Replacement Programme, involves the assembly of the five VH-92As as well as associated interim contractor support, two cabin interior reconfiguration kits, support equipment, initial spares, and system parts replenishment.
The five VH-92As are part of the Fiscal Year 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds and they will be built at Stratford. Work must be completed by December 2023.
As reported earlier by Scramble (see Scramble News 19 November 2020), the VH-92A is heading for an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in July 2021. So far seventeen VH-92As are ordered (six in 2019, six in February 2020 and now these five). Two of test VH-92As were operating at the Naval Observatory in Washington DC, doing some test runs.
Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1, that will operate the VH-92As as a replacement for the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N Black Hawk, will get 23 VH-92As, comprised of 21 operational fleet aircraft and two test aircraft. The ssquadron is based at MCAS Quantico (VA) with a detachment at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC (MD).
