VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
Updated November 26, 2021
VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
The Marine Corps operates a fleet of helicopters to provide
Director of the White House Military Office.” In addition to
transportation for the President, Vice President, and other
providing that transportation, presidential helicopters are
senior officials. These aircraft are known as “Marine One”
equipped with specialized self-defense features and
when the President is aboard. The VH-92 program is
communications systems that permit the President to carry
intended to provide 23 new helicopters to replace the
out critical command functions while aboard. Presidential
current fleet of aging VH-3D and VH-60N presidential
helicopters need to be large enough to carry a certain
helicopters.
number of passengers and mission equipment, but small
enough to operate from the White House lawn.
Figure 1. VH-92A
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.
Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Perry Aston.
An earlier replacement program, the VH-71, was
Existing Presidential Helicopters
terminated in 2009 following substantial cost growth and
schedule delays. Following that termination, in FY2010, the
The existing presidential helicopter fleet includes 11 VH-
Obama Administration proposed a new presidential
3D helicopters that achieved Initial Operational Capability
helicopter program, called the VXX Presidential Helicopter
(IOC) in 1975, eight VH-60N helicopters that achieved IOC
Program, which became today’s VH-92 program.
in 1989, and four test and training helicopters. The
helicopters have had their service lives extended and have
Of the 23 VH-92 helicopters the Marine Corps plans to
been regularly upgraded over time. (Examples of upgrades
acquire, six were acquired through research and
include more effective main rotor blades, improved
development funding for development and test prior to
communications, and better cockpit displays.)
2019, and four of those are to be outfitted to join the
operational fleet. Congress appropriated $649 million for
six production VH-92s in FY2019 and $641 million for
another six in FY2020. The final five were included in a
$578 million appropriation in FY2021. The total program
acquisition cost, including development and procurement, is
projected at $4.9 billion, 5.6% less than initially estimated
in 2014.
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
Heads of State, and other official parties as directed by the
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VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
Figure 3. VH-60N “Whitehawk”
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
expected in late summer 2020. As a result, the development
program has taken three months longer than planned, and
the current program anticipates an April 2021 first fielding,
with a full fleet in place by January 2023.
Source: U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Daniel J.
Another issue is the inability of the VH-92 to operate from
McLain.
the White House landing area without damaging the lawn.
Program History and Particulars
A variety of approaches, including changes in procedures,
aircraft design, and lawn treatments, are being evaluated to
The VH-71 program, an earlier attempt to replace the
mitigate this issue.
Presidential helicopter fleet, began in 2005 and was
terminated on April 6, 2009, after schedule delays,
A Milestone C production decision, approving the VH-92
requirements growth, and other issues led to the projected
acquisition strategy, was announced on May 30, 2019.
cost more than doubling from initial estimates. Those issues
That strategy consists of three low-rate production lots to
also resulted in public criticism from both 2008 presidential
complete the program. The production contracts are to be
candidates.
firm-fixed-price.
The Navy, on behalf of DOD, subsequently established the
VH-92s are currently in flight test at Patuxent River Naval
VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program.
Air Station, MD, and in the Washington, DC, area. Tests
Initially, two teams expected to compete for the program,
were scheduled to be complete in September 2020, with
but the team of AgustaWestland and Northrop Grumman
initial operational capability by July 2021. However, a
withdrew in 2013, leaving Sikorsky the only bidder.
November 2021 report indicated that while the DOD
Subsequently, DOD accelerated the program by waiving the
Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation had found
typical requirement for competitive prototyping. On May
the VH-92 operationally suitable or routine flights, it did
7, 2014, the Navy awarded a fixed-price incentive
not receive the same rating for contingency operation
development contract to Sikorsky for VH-92s.
missions, or emergency flights, in part due to continuing
issues with the mission communications system. The
The VH-92 had also been a contender for the previous
responsibility to declare initial operational capability lies
program. Based on the S-92 civilian helicopter, each VH-92
with the Marine Corps in concert with the White House
seats 12 passengers in administrative lift configuration, with
Military Office.
a crew of two.
Jeremiah Gertler, Specialist in Military Aviation
The VH-92 prime contractor is Sikorsky Aircraft, a
subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, in Stratford, CT. The flying
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VH-92 Presidential Helicopter
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11598 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED