Biden Flies in New Marine One as U.S. Completes VH-92A Fleet

The U.S. Marine Corps has officially received the final batch of 23 new VH-92A Patriot helicopters, marking a significant update to the presidential transport fleet. These helicopters are most commonly known as Marine One when carrying the U.S. president. The last VH-92A was delivered during a ceremony held at Sikorsky's Owego, New York facility on August 14, 2024. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has been working on these airframes as part of a long-term effort to replace the aging VH-3D Sea Kings and VH-60N White Hawks.

This milestone represents a culmination of efforts that began with the Obama administration and stretched through the Trump administration, following a series of delays related to communications systems and issues with the helicopter’s exhaust, which had previously scorched the White House South Lawn. Despite these challenges, the VH-92A has now been deemed operationally capable, marking the end of the long replacement process for the Vietnam-era helicopters.

The new VH-92A helicopters, based on the Sikorsky S-92 platform, are larger and more advanced than their predecessors, offering better performance, increased range, and enhanced communication systems. Two of the 23 helicopters will be designated for testing, while the remaining 21 will join the operational fleet. The VH-92A retains the iconic dark green and white livery of Marine One, continuing a tradition that has been in place for decades.

President Joe Biden took his inaugural flight aboard one of these new helicopters in August 2024, after arriving in Chicago on Air Force One for an event at the Democratic National Convention. This flight marked a crucial transition in the use of the VH-92A for presidential transport, as the aircraft has undergone extensive testing to ensure reliability and safety.

The VH-92A project faced delays due to technical challenges, including secure communications systems necessary for the president to conduct classified discussions and manage military operations during flights. Additionally, modifications were needed to prevent the helicopters from causing damage to grass landing zones. Nonetheless, these issues have reportedly been resolved, and the VH-92A is now ready to fully assume the role of transporting the president and other high-ranking officials. 

As these helicopters settle into service, the older VH-3D and VH-60N airframes will likely continue to operate in a limited capacity while the transition is finalized. The VH-92A marks the next chapter in Marine Helicopter Squadron One's mission, ensuring that the president can travel securely and efficiently for years to come.

Sikorsky wins contract to build six more VH-92A ‘Marine One’ helicopters

Sikorsky has won a $471 million contract from the US Navy (USN) to build six production VH-92A presidential helicopters.
The helicopters are to be operated by the US Marine Corps (USMC) and are to replace the Sikorsky VH-3D, popularly known by its call sign of “Marine One” when the US president flies aboard.
The USN plans to buy 23 examples of the VH-92A as part of its programme of record.
Sikorsky will deliver the six VH-92A helicopters in 2022 and 2023.
flightglobal

Canada looks at Ex-US presidential helicopters for SAR Mission

Lost hikers or stranded fishermen could find themselves being rescued by helicopters once designed to transport U.S. presidents.
The Canada's Department of National Defence had been insistent that the presidential helicopters, purchased in 2011 for spare parts for Canada’s current search-and-rescue choppers, would never be used as actual aircraft.
But in an about-face, the military and DND now acknowledge they are looking at doing just that.
Defence sources say senior officers inside the Royal Canadian Air Force have successfully argued that since the $3-billion helicopters, known as the VH-71, were airworthy, it didn’t make sense to strip them down for parts. They are pushing for the aircraft to be added to the RCAF flight line.
When Barack Obama came to the presidency, he balked at the high cost of the VH-71 helicopter program, which had been started under former president George W. Bush. Around $3 billion had already been spent and the program was expected to more than double in price.
As a result, the U.S. government shut down the program.
The VH-71s are similar to the search-and-rescue Cormorant helicopters currently used by the RCAF.
The nine new helicopters, as well as more than 800,000 spare parts, were purchased by DND for about $164 million. Seven of the choppers are airworthy.
Defence sources say the RCAF is considering using the helicopters to bolster the search-and-rescue fleet in the coming years since it will have to remove some Cormorants from service as they go through what is known as a mid-life upgrade.
A fleet of 21 helicopters would allow for better coverage, particularly in the Arctic.
Canada embarked on the presidential helicopter deal with the aim of trying to cut down on the excessive amount of time the Cormorants spent on the ground because of a lack of parts.
calgaryherald

Sikorsky Wins Presidential Helicopter Award

The US Navy has officially selected Sikorsky to develop the next-generation of presidential helicopters.
The EMD contract phase calls for the procurement of six test aircraft and two simulators, with an October 2020 completion date.
Sikorsky plans to deliver 21 aircraft to the Marines by 2023. The program will start immediately.
The Sikorsky design is a modified version of its S-92 helicopter.
Sikorsky was the only bidder on the program. Although the Navy had publicly said it desired competition for the contract, teams from Northrop Grumman-AgustaWestland and Bell-Boeing declined to bid.
The president is currently carried in Sikorsky-made VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft.
The Navy has been attempting to award the contract for the presidential helicopter, formally known as VXX, since the mid-2000s. Sikorsky lost the contract to a team of Lockheed and AgustaWestland in 2005, before requirements creep led to increased costs and the eventual cancellation of that contract in 2009. After some delay, the new competition began in November of 2012.
defensenews

Presidential Helo Contract Expected This Week

The contract for the next US presidential helicopter will be awarded this week.
The only known bidder on the program is the team of Sikorsky Aircraft and Lockheed Martin, which is offering a souped-up version of Sikorsky’s S-92. The president flies in Sikorsky-made VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft.
The US government hopes to acquire up to 23 operational helicopters, with a 2020 operational date targeted.
Initially, the US Navy expected Sikorsky to be challenged by offerings from the teams of Northrop Grumman-AgustaWestland and Bell-Boeing. But after studying the requirements, both teams declined to participate in the program.
The Navy has been attempting to award the contract for the presidential helicopter, formally known as VXX, since the mid-2000s. Sikorsky actually lost to a team of Lockheed and AgustaWestland in 2005, before requirements creep led to increased costs and the eventual cancellation of that contract in 2009. The new competition was launched in November 2012.
defensenews

Navy Set to Pick Presidential Helicopter Contractor

The Navy plans to select the contractor who will build the next generation presidential helicopter next month.
It appears the service will only have one contractor to choose from, Sikorsky, after two other teams dropped out of the bidding process. AgustaWestland and Northrop Grumman had planned to offer the AW101 helicopter, and Boeing had discussed offering modified versions of the V-22 Osprey and the CH-47 Chinook. Both dropped out.
That would leave Sikorsky as the lone bidder with the company set to offer its S-92 helicopter to replace the aging VH-3D Sea King.
The Navy plans to build a fleet of 21 operational aircraft and 2 test aircraft for the president. Marine Helicopter Squadron One will fly the new aircraft. Full operational capability is expected in 2022 and the first test aircraft will be delivered in 2016.
The Navy’s selection of a new contractor will come five years after the former contract with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland to building the helicopter was canceled. Cost overruns had ballooned by so much.
The former helicopter was so advanced it was supposed to survive a nuclear blast.
Five years later the Navy is ready to start anew, likely with the same company who built the aging presidential helicopter.
dodbuzz

Only One Bidder For New US Presidential Helo?

It’s looking increasingly likely that when the bidding closes for the new VXX US presidential helicopter program, only one serious offer will be made.
Of the three major industry teams expected to compete, two — AgustaWestland and Bell-Boeing — have announced their withdrawal, leaving the field to Sikorsky.
defensenews

Presidential Ospreys Get a Paint Job

The first MV-22 Ospreys set to fly presidential support missions for Marine Helicopter Squadron One have arrived at Quantico, Va., and they received a new paint job.
The Ospreys will not be white tops like the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60 White Hawks, which get their nickname from the white paint job up top. These are the helicopters that carry the President of the United States. Instead, the Ospreys were painted green as they will carry presidential support staff and the media.

defensetech

Osprey debuts at Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1

Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1 Marines, past and present, family members and friends mingle on the flight line with the newest addition to the squadron, an MV-22 B 'Osprey,' after an MV-22B Introduction Ceremony in the HMX-1 hangar May 4 in Quantico, Va. The aircraft, built by Bell-Boeing under direction from the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275), is the first of 12 to be delivered to HMX-1.
navair

USMC presidential helicopter squadron starts flying MV-22

The US Marine Corps's HMX-1 presidential helicopter squadron has started flying the Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey, the service says. The unit received its first tiltrotor aircraft on 5 April at MCB Quantico, Virginia, and started flying on 26 April.

flightglobal

Department of the Navy seeks presidential helicopter replacement

The Navy issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX). Proposals are due in 90 days with a goal to award a fixed-price incentive engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract, with production options, by mid-calendar year 2014.

navair

India bought helicopters Obama rejected as ‘costly

US president Barack Obama had found a variant of the AW-101 helicopters too exorbitant to pass muster in 2009. But the Indian government had no such qualms while inking the Rs 3,546-crore deal for 12 plush AW-101 helicopters just a year later in 2010.

The American "Marine One", the call sign of the US Marine Corps helicopter which ferries the US President, would of course have been much more high-tech and "souped-up" helicopter compared to the Indian variant.

timesofindia

First Presidential V-22 takes flight

Aircraft 197, the first MV-22 to be assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1, hovers over the runway during a test flight at the Bell-Boeing V-22 assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas, on Jan. 22.

Presidential V-22s on schedule for delivery in 2013

Aircraft 209, the fourth MV-22 to be assigned to the Presidential Support Squadron awaits attachment of the tail empennage (painted the iconic dark green of the squadron) on the Bell V-22 assembly plant production floor in Amarillo, Texas, Dec. 1.

The first MV-22 is on schedule to be delivered to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), the Marine squadron that provides executive level logistics and passenger support to the president, in early 2013. The MV-22s will replace the CH-46Es currently operating with the squadron.

navair

Presidential V-22s on schedule for delivery in 2013

Aircraft 209, the fourth MV-22 to be assigned to the Presidential Support Squadron awaits attachment of the tail empennage (painted the iconic dark green of the squadron) on the Bell V-22 assembly plant production floor in Amarillo, Texas, Dec. 1.

The first MV-22 is on schedule to be delivered to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), the Marine squadron that provides executive level logistics and passenger support to the president, in early 2013. The MV-22s will replace the CH-46Es currently operating with the squadron.

navair.navy.mil

US Navy releases draft RFP for Presidential helicopter

The US Navy (USN) has released a new draft request for proposal (RFP) for the VXX Presidential helicopter replacement programme. A formal RFP should be released by the middle of the current fiscal year.

flightglobal

Boeing ofrecerá el AW101 como helicóptero presidencial/ Boeing to offer Italian AW101 for White House helicopter

Boeing se ha asegurado la licencia para construir y ofrecer una versión del AgustaWestland AW101 en el futuro concurso que se convocará para adquirir un nuevo helicópteros para transporte del presidente de Estados Unidos.
Un equipo formado por Lockheed Martin y AgustaWestland ganó un concurso convocado a tal efecto en 2004, pero la escalada de costes, provocó su cancelación en 2009.
(leer más)
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Boeing will secure a license to offer a US-built version of the AgustaWestland AW101 in a move that shakes up a repeat competition to replace the presidential helicopter fleet.
A Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland team previously won the presidential helicopter contract in 2004, but a series of required design changes that drove up costs led to the termination of the contract five years later.
(read more)

Sikorshy y Lockeed se unen para suministar futuro "Marine One"/Sikorsky, Lockheed join forces for revamped Marine One deal

Sikorsky y Lockheed Martin, antes rivales, competirán juntas, en el concurso de futuro helicóptero presidencial de Estados Unidos (VXX). Estos son conocidos como "Marine One".
Sikorsky sería el contratista principal, y Lockheed el primer proveedor.
Lockheed ha prescindido de su anterior socio AgustaWestland. El helicóptero de AgustaWestland (VH-71), versión del AW101, ya fue elegido ganador anteriormente, pero la US Navy suspendió el programa, debido a que los costes crecieron notablemente. En febrero de 2010 se reinició el programa.
La flota de helicópteros presidenciales actual operada por el USMC es de 11 Sikorsky VH-3D y ocho Sikorsky VH-60.
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Sikorsky has allied with previous rival Lockheed Martin to partner for a revamped competition for the prized Marine One helicopter contract.

A Lockheed source confirms that the agreement calls for Sikorsky to lead the team as prime contractor, with Lockheed to fill the role of major systems supplier.
The new teaming agreement indicates that Lockheed has severed its previous partnership on the Marine One/VXX contest with Finmeccanica company AgustaWestland. The US Navy terminated a contract to buy Lockheed/AgustaWestland VH-71As last June, despite having already spent $3.2 billion on the development of the AW101.
In February, USN officials, who are managing the competition on behalf of the US Marine Corps, released a request for information to restart the VXX bidding process. The document solicited industry's feedback to inform a pending analysis of alternatives.
The USMC currently operates a fleet of 11 Sikorsky VH-3Ds and eight Sikorsky VH-60s.
Sikorsky offered its S-92-based VH-92 for the previous VXX competition.