THE US NAVY has announced that Sikorsky Aircraft has been selected as the winner of the VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement program. The May 7 news means that, under the terms of a $1.24-billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract. Sikorsky will build, modify, test and deliver six FAA-certifîed S-92A helicopters and two simulators to the US Marine Corps. The 'competition' had actually become a one-horse race after Northrop Grumman/ AgustaWestland and Bell/Boeing decided not to take part. The EMD contract runs until 2020. Ultimately the program includes 21 operational aircraft that will be delivered by 2023. Sikorsky submitted its VXX proposal for an existing, in-production helicopter platform to the US Navy in August 2013. but became the only bidder for the project when several competitors decided not to pursue it. Sikorsky has delivered more than 200 S-92s, developed as a medium-lift, commercial helicopter, since 2004. Ten nations currently utilize the aircraft for their head of state missions. Also used by the offshore oil and gas industry, and for civil search and rescue, the S-92's main cabin is 20ft (6.1m) long, 6.5ft (1.9m) wide and 6ft (1.8m) high. Two of the six aircraft covered by the EMD contract will be designated as Engineering Development Models (EDM), and will be delivered in 2018. Those aircraft will support flight performance and mission communication system capabilities testing carried out by the US Navy as well as certification testing by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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