Sikorsky Awarded Contract to Replace ‘Marine One’ Helicopter Fleet

May 13, 2014

Matthew Monaghan

Sikorsky submitted its VXX proposal for an existing, in-production helicopter platform to the Navy in August 2013, following a Request for Proposals in May of the same year.

The U.S. Navy selected Sikorsky Aircraft to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters for the Office of the President. With the selection comes a $1.24 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to modify, test, and deliver six FAA-certified S-92 helicopters and two trainer simulators to the U.S. Marine Corps. Covering a period of performance into late 2020, the fixed price incentive firm contract is the initial step to providing, by 2023, a VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement fleet totaling 21 operational aircraft. Of the six contracted aircraft, two will be designated Engineering Development Models (EDMs), enabling the Department of the Navy at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland to test the platform’s flight performance and mission communication system capabilities as certified by the FAAon. Sikorsky is contracted to deliver the two EDM aircraft during 2018. The remaining four aircraft—designated System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA)—will perform operational test and evaluation, and then transition to operational status. Sikorsky will deliver two training simulators (one each for maintainers and pilots) ahead of aircraft deliveries in 2018.