Sikorsky has delivered the 23rd and final VH-92A Patriot presidential helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps, marking the completion of a project that began several years ago.
According to a press release from the company, this delivery was celebrated in a recent ceremony at Sikorsky’s facilities in Owego, New York.
The VH-92A helicopters, known for their distinctive white and green livery, will transport the President and Vice President of the United States and other high-ranking officials.
Lieutenant General Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating in the press release that the delivery of the VH-92A represents “a significant milestone and new chapter in the rich, 67-year history of Marines providing helicopter transport of the president of the United States.”
Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager, Richard Benton, also commended the efforts of the company’s employees, saying, “Once again, Sikorsky’s highly-skilled employees have shown their ability to innovate, manufacture and deliver these next-generation VH-92A presidential helicopters that will be operating worldwide in support of presidential missions well into the future.”
The VH-92A program, based on the FAA-certified Sikorsky S-92 aircraft, was completed under budget and within the planned delivery schedule, says the firm. The helicopters were modified to meet government-defined requirements at Sikorsky’s Owego, New York, and Stratford, Connecticut facilities.
$200 million USD each, $5 billion USD in total costs, surely the money could have been better spent?
Like what – defending parasitic European and North American nations that refuse to expend the funds to defend themselves?
Do please remind us all which country invoked NATO article 5 after 9/11.
Then you can return to your crayons and Breitbart.
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From a UK citizen…you are exactly right. I am ashamed to be British
Good morning Comrade! How’s St Petersburg today? A bit wet today and tomorrow but looks like you’re in for a fantastic week next week!
He’s exactly wrong as UK has consistently spent above the NATO 2014 target of 2%GDP, and this talking point comes from the liar in chief #45 convicted fraudster and rapist who will say anything (pootin tells him) to stay out of prison for his many crimes.
You could, rationally, debate the current administration target for 2.5% GDP when economic conditions allow and whether the financial markets should have power of veto on UK Defence spending as markets depend on security and stability…
Boom
The only NATO member to invoke Article 5 was the USA (9/11) when everyone responded. So clearly NATO membership is the USA national interest.
Congress passed a law to prevent an Executive Order to exit NATO.
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NATO says the 2014 spending agreement is on track, so #45 alleged delinquency by Europe is just to trigger his supporters. Lies.
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So it’s in the national interest of the free world and Ukraine that convicted fraudster and rapist #45 is defeated by US voters in November🇺🇸
So… lets look at this. Back in the late 60’s Kissinger described the US as ‘the worlds Police force’ . The US hasnt openly got involved in any conflict where there has not been oil or vested trade interests that threaten the might of the USD. Anything going to Ukraine will be at the expense of trade deals post vongoĥ There are constantly conflicts all over the place. Hundreds of school girls taken by militant fanatics in Nigeria in one night..Georgia, Ngoro karabkh seatch nagorno karabakh conflict.. I grant you that NATO countries have not kept to their 2.5% spending… Read more »
You have to add in the 4.5billion they spaffed away on VH-71…..so they essentially paid 10 billion for 23 rotors. Ten years after they needed them.
Ah US101 anyone those were the days..worked on that wet dream of selling the US Merlin Whirlies….. until lobbying convinced USG to “buy Amorican”….spaffing indeed.
This is only part of it. Because the USA has not only SSN armed with ICBM, but also ground launched ICBM, the command structure must also include a fleet of two aircraft to form the Presidential transport with nuclear command authority on board. Airforce One callsign when POTUS is on board. So the cost for that is also large..
In the context of the annual US Defence Spending it’s trivial but does get attention because it’s visible. Having a reliable control mechanism on nuclear weapons seems very desirable to me..
Between the airframe, secure comms, maint, trng, lifetime support/parts, it’s probably a decent deal given how small the fleet will be.
It is staggering sometimes how much US taxpayers money the US government is willing to piss up the wall…we think our government is inefficient….just got to look over the pond… when you think before this programme they blew 4.4 billion on the VH-71….messed around and were so hard to work with and kept changing the demands the programme spiralled out of control…9 were deliver for the 4.4 billion and were sold to Canada for spare parts for 150million.. they then payed another 6 billion for these 23 rotors..so in the end it cost around 10billion for 23 rotors…which may just… Read more »
Having a vehicle immune from Electro-Magnetic Pulse and Electronic Counter Measures is never going to be cheap though fibre-optic cables do help.
Having a reliable nuclear command authority is probably in all our best interests. Decades of no inadvertent use shows the value of due diligence IMHO.
I know, so much money for what exactly? An exec fitted interior, updated encrypted communications systems…. Zimmer frame holder? I’ll guess at off the shelf flare/chaff/infra red/EW defensive systems built in…
i sometimes wonder if it’s programs like this that have money siphoned off for the ‘black/off the books’’ programs.
The R&D that goes into the EMP protection on that specific aircraft that costs a lot of money. (not that this is a justification for the costs. They’re eye watering)
Business betting / funding spreaf betting on future programs as an investment.
How can the US justify 23 Presidential spec helicopters? They must have money to burn.
They’re not just for ‘presidential’ use, they’re also used to ferry around the VP and senior cabinet members. If we assume a third of the fleet are in maintainence at any one time, that leaves around 15 available at any one time. Also worth remembering that each presidential or VP flight will involve a stand-by aircraft as well.
Given the risks involved and the size of the US it’s not an unreasonable number of aircraft. The price of each is eye watering though.