July 9, 2020
VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
The Marine Corps operates a fleet of helicopters to provide
Heads of State, and other official parties as directed by the
transportation for the President, Vice President, and other
Director of the White House Military Office.” In addition to
senior officials. These aircraft are known as “Marine One”
providing that transportation, presidential helicopters are
when the President is aboard. The VH-92 program is
equipped with specialized self-defense features and
intended to provide 23 new helicopters to replace the
communications systems that permit the President to carry
current fleet of aging VH-3D and VH-60N presidential
out critical command functions while aboard. Presidential
helicopters.
helicopters need to be large enough to carry a certain
number of passengers and mission equipment, but small
Figure 1. VH-92A
enough to operate from the White House lawn.
The fleet of executive helicopters are known as “White
Tops” for their distinctive paint scheme; other helicopters
operated by HMX-1 that carry cargo and support staff are
called “Green Tops.” VH-92s are being procured only for
the White Top role.
Figure 2. VH-3D “Sea King”
Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Hunter Helis.
An earlier replacement program, the VH-71, was
Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston.
terminated in 2009 following substantial cost growth and
Existing Presidential Helicopters
schedule delays. Following that termination, in FY2010, the
Obama Administration proposed a new presidential
The existing presidential helicopter fleet includes 11 VH-
helicopter program, called the VXX Presidential Helicopter
3D helicopters that achieved Initial Operational Capability
Program, which became today’s VH-92 program.
(IOC) in 1975, eight VH-60N helicopters that achieved IOC
in 1989, and four test and training helicopters. The
Of the 23 VH-92 helicopters the Marine Corps plans to
helicopters have had their service lives extended and have
acquire, six were acquired through research and
been regularly upgraded over time. (Examples of upgrades
development funding for development and test prior to
include more effective main rotor blades, improved
2019, and four of those are to be outfitted to join the
communications, and better cockpit displays.)
operational fleet. Congress appropriated $649 million for
six production VH-92s in FY2019 and $641 million for
another six in FY2020. The Administration’s FY2021
budget request proposes $610 million for the final five
helicopters. The total program acquisition cost, including
development and procurement, is projected at $4.9 billion,
5.6% less than initially estimated in 2014. Delivery of the
17 production VH-92s is scheduled to begin in April 2021.
Mission of Presidential Helicopters
Presidential helicopters are operated by a Marine Corps
squadron called Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-
1), headquartered at Marine Corps Airfield Quantico, VA.
The Department of Defense (DOD) states that HMX-1’s
helicopters are “to provide safe, reliable, and timely
transportation for the President, Vice President, Foreign
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VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
Figure 3. VH-60N “Whitehawk”
seats 12 passengers in administrative lift configuration, with
a crew of two.
The VH-92 prime contractor is Sikorsky Aircraft, a
subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, in Stratford, CT. The flying
airframes are to be built in Coatesville, PA, and
subsequently modified in Stratford, after which mission
systems are to be added in Owego, NY. Each VH-92 has
two engines, made by General Electric of Lynn, MA.
The first VH-92 test aircraft was transferred to the
government in July 2018, and a second in December 2018.
They underwent operational assessment testing from March
1 to April 9, 2019. The main issues observed during the
trial concerned the mission communications system aboard
the VH-92 rather than issues with the aircraft itself.
Rectification of the communications system issues is
Source: U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Daniel J.
expected in late summer 2020. As a result, the development
McLain.
program has taken three months longer than planned, and
Program History and Particulars
the current program anticipates an April 2021 first fielding,
with a full fleet in place by January 2023.
The VH-71 program, an earlier attempt to replace the
Presidential helicopter fleet, began in 2005 and was
Another issue is the inability of the VH-92 to operate from
terminated on April 6, 2009, after schedule delays,
the White House landing area without damaging the lawn.
requirements growth, and other issues led to the projected
A variety of approaches, including changes in procedures,
cost more than doubling from initial estimates. Those issues
aircraft design, and lawn treatments, are being evaluated to
also resulted in public criticism from both 2008 presidential
mitigate this issue.
candidates.
A Milestone C production decision, approving the VH-92
The Navy, on behalf of DOD, subsequently established the
acquisition strategy, was announced on May 30, 2019.
VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program.
That strategy consists of three low-rate production lots to
Initially, two teams expected to compete for the program,
complete the program. The production contracts are to be
but the team of AgustaWestland and Northrop Grumman
firm-fixed-price.
withdrew in 2013, leaving Sikorsky the only bidder.
Subsequently, DOD accelerated the program by waiving the
VH-92 operational testing is expected to begin imminently,
typical requirement for competitive prototyping. On May
with completion scheduled for September 2020.
7, 2014, the Navy awarded a fixed-price incentive
development contract to Sikorsky for VH-92s.
Jeremiah Gertler, Specialist in Military Aviation
The VH-92 had also been a contender for the previous
IF11598
program. Based on the S-92 civilian helicopter, each VH-92
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VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11598 · VERSION 1 · NEW