Helikopter

 

Navair mente AW101 var det beste alternativet. Politisk press og "Buy American", akkurat som for fiaskoen KC-46, vant frem. Store ekstrakostnader som ingen tør snakke høyt om, og enorme forsinkelser ble følgene. (Red.) 

U.S. Navy Issues $21.6M VH-92A engine evaluation order NewsMaritime Security ByColton Jones Jan 14, 2026 Modified date: Jan 14, 2026 VH-92A over the south lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2018. (Photo by Hunter Helis) Key Points ·         The U.S. Navy awarded Sikorsky a not-to-exceed $21.6 million order for           transient engine torque testing and certification work        on the VH-92A Patriot fleet. ·         The Navy said the effort supports ongoing modifications and       follows a separate $113.5 million contract modification for VH-92A sustainment issued in     December 2025. The United States Navy awarded Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin company, a not-to-exceed $21.6 million order on January 13 to support transient engine torque test and certification work for the VH-92A Patriot fleet. The undefinitized order, issued under an existing basic ordering agreement, funds engineering and test efforts required for modifications to the aircraft now entering full operational service. According to the Navy’s contracting announcement, the order will provide “instantaneous access to 105% Transient Engine Torque test and certification efforts” for the VH-92A program. The service said the work will support the aircraft’s ongoing modification and compliance requirements as the fleet transitions into sustained operational use. Naval Air Systems Command, based at Patuxent River, Maryland, is listed as the contracting activity.   The VH-92A Patriot is the Navy-operated helicopter used for presidential and senior government transport. Built on the S-92 airframe and modified for executive lift missions, the platform includes upgraded communications, survivability features and redundancy systems. The Navy manages the program through Naval Air Systems Command and serves as the operating authority for presidential airlift missions under the U.S. Department of War. Work under the new order will be distributed across multiple U.S. locations. The Navy stated that tasks will be conducted in Lynn, Massachusetts (44%); Stratford, Connecticut (36%); West Palm Beach, Florida (12%); Orlando, Florida (2%); King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (2%); Owego, New York (1%); Trumbull, Connecticut (1%); Hanover, Maryland (1%); and Moorestown, New Jersey (1%). Completion is expected by July 2027. The award obligates $5 million in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds at time of issuance. The new order follows a separate contract action issued on December 16, 2025. In that earlier announcement, the Navy stated that Sikorsky received a $113.5 million modification to continue long-term support for the VH-92A fleet. Identified as modification P00015, the action increased the ceiling of a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. That agreement includes firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-reimbursable elements and supports a full range of sustainment functions. According to the Navy, the December modification provides integrated logistics support, sustaining engineering, spares, material management, component overhaul and training activities for the VH-92A aircraft now entering service. Naval Air Systems Command was also the contracting authority for that award. The VH-92A program replaces the aging VH-3D and VH-60N executive transport helicopters. As part of the modernization effort, the fleet requires test activities to validate engine performance, system reliability and mission configuration changes. The newly awarded order focuses specifically on transient engine torque testing, a requirement tied to safe operation during rapid power changes in demanding flight profiles. Sikorsky’s involvement spans development, production and post-delivery support of the VH-92A platform. The company maintains production and engineering sites across several states, which aligns with the geographic distribution included in the Navy’s contract announcement. The S-92 airframe, from which the VH-92A is derived, is widely used in government and commercial roles, including offshore transport and search-and-rescue missions.