Final VH-92A Patriot accepted
In August 2024, the US Marine Corps (USMC) accepted delivery of the final Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot helicopter, BuNo 169182 (c/n 920315). This marks the completion of the programme to deliver 23 new presidential helicopters in support of the executive lift mission.
The VH-92A Patriot inventory now consists of 21 operational and two test aircraft. This quantity ensures that aircraft are available to support the executive lift mission, undergo various levels of maintenance, receive lifecycle upgrades, and provide assets for pilot and aircrew training.
Sikorsky initially entered the VH-92 variant of the S-92 into the VXX competition to replace the US presidential Helicopter Marine One (HMX-1) Nighthawks, which included the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk. However, Sikorsky lost to the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel. Due to ballooning development costs, the competition was restarted in 2010, allowing Sikorsky to resubmit the VH-92 in April 2010. By mid-2013, all other aircraft manufacturers had withdrawn from the contest, leaving Sikorsky as the sole competitor.
On 7 May 2014, it was announced that the VH-92 had won the restarted VXX competition. In the same month, Sikorsky was awarded a USD 1.2 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.
The Marine Corps is working with the White House Military Office, the Presidential Helicopters Programme Office (PMA-274), and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) to ensure a smooth transition from the current in-service VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft to the VH-92A.
As of the latest update, there are currently 10 VH-3Ds, six VH-60Ns, and nine VH-92As supporting various missions assigned to HMX-1.
On 28 December 2021, the VH-92 achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) milestone. On 19 August 2024, President Joe Biden took his first flight aboard the newest Marine One.
Credit photo: Owen Hoffmann (via NAVAIR News)