Author Topic: European Helicopter contract for U.S Marine One (Read 711 times)

CMC Airboss · « **on:** January 31, 2005, 04:07:43 PM »

European Helicopter contract for U.S Marine One

From Inside the Navy, Vol. 18, No. 4, January 31, 2005

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"The US-101, proposed by an international team led by Lockheed Martin, has been selected by the Navy to become the next-generation Marine One helicopter that will fly U.S. presidents for years to come, Navy acquisition executive John Young announced at press time (Jan. 28)"

"Lockheed's team has been awarded a $1.7 billion, cost plus award fee contract to launch the VXX program's system development and demonstration phase. The total value of the program, intended to produce 23 aircraft, is estimated to be $6.1 billion, naval officials told reporters Friday.

"This decision truly reflects the best value and capability for the American taxpayer who is funding it, the Marines who will operate it and the future presidents who will fly in it," Young said in a prepared statement."

Wow. This "value" puts the price of each helicopter at $265 million. That happens to be the list price for a new Airbus 380. Thats $30 million(!) more per aircraft than a KC-767A Tanker which was slandered as the biggest boondoggle in US military aquisition history by Senator McCain. (ref: program cost of $23 billion for 100 KC-767's). You could also purchase more than two and a half F-22 Raptors for the cost of one new presidential helicopter. Thats kind of pricey for a helicopter that can be purchased for $27m apiece on the civilian market (EH-101).

Cost plus? That means "bill us, take your profits, and charge us for any cost overuns." This is a European helicopter designed by AgustaWestland, who will share in the profits with Lockheed. Two sets of profits and nearly guaranteed cost overruns? Where is the outrage from Senator McCain? Where are the calls for scandal and corruption?

MiG

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:13:14 PM »

I heard the helos will be assembled by Bell at their Hurst and Amarillo plants in Texas. I'm sure there are some nifty goodies that are not available on the civilian models.

Swoop · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:23:04 PM »

For $265 million it better be gold shreckin plated.

straffo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:26:12 PM »

Gold is not so expensive Swoop

rpm · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:29:00 PM »

Sad that Sikorsky did'nt get the contract. Long history with Marine One. That would be like Boeing losing Air Force One.

hawker238 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:37:48 PM »

Oh man, can you imagine the people freaking out on this BBS if Air Force One became an A380!? That'd be hilarious!

Creamo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2005, 04:43:53 PM »

How would that be funny Hawker? It would explode on take off and then the secret fly-by-wire mirrors would add smoke and HAL would drive the remains into the ground while the pilot had no control.

Delirium · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:00:47 PM »

People in Connecticut are 'freaking out' at the loss of this contract.

Not that I work for UTC/Si, but even the new Govenor has sent Bush a rather coarse letter.

Quote

Originally posted by hawker238
Oh man, can you imagine the people freaking out on this BBS if Air Force One became an A380!? That'd be hilarious!

Gh0stFT · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:23:37 PM »

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Originally posted by hawker238
Oh man, can you imagine the people freaking out on this BBS if Air Force One became an A380!? That'd be hilarious!

whats wrong with that idea? thats finaly a plane worth for presidentz!

Finrod · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2005, 05:30:58 PM »

Just not an American president

Staga · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:22:52 PM »

What does the price contain? If just the helos it sounds pretty high but if it contains training, services, spares and whole show...

better read the small print from contracts and see if those helos were ordered with black paint...

bunch · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:48:05 PM »

Bush should just be flying around in an F-104...he'd get there faster & at less cost & he wouldn't have to schlep a bunch of media along at our expense

CMC Airboss · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2005, 06:48:19 PM »

Total program cost is $6.1 billion. Of that, Lockheed was awarded $1.7 billion. So it looks like Lockheed will only be performing the final integration of the the supplied sub-assemblies from Europe. There was no further cost breakdown given.

What I don't understand is how most of the contract $$$'s were awarded to a foreign firm without so much as a peep from the House and Senate defense sub-committees. I guess it all comes down to this statement in the "Inside The Navy" article:

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Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) praised the decision, which will benefit industry in her state.

"What a great day for Owego, the Southern Tier and all of New York! I extend my warmest congratulations to the employees and management at Lockheed Martin's Owego plant and to the entire Southern Tier of New York which will benefit from this contract. I am so proud of what they have accomplished," Clinton said in a prepared statement.

Another interesting side note is that the total program cost per RAH-66 Comanche helicopter would have been $37.75m with a purchase of 121 aircraft (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/crs/RS20522.pdf). The most advanced helicopter in the world was canceled because it cost too much - 1/7th the cost (per unit) and only 2/3 rds the total program cost of the US-101.

MiG

LePaul · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2005, 07:38:34 PM »

Airboss,

The military doubletalk will only get better as the next round of base-closings kicks in this spring.

Wolfala · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2005, 07:54:35 PM »

Del,

I know the boys down at BDR were throwing a **** fit b/c one of our guys is a test pilot for them. Not good anyway u cut it.