VH-92A helicopter on the tarmac at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River. Credit: US Navy.

Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky Aircraft has secured a second contract valued at $470.8m from the US Navy to build six production VH-92A helicopters for the presidential helicopter replacement programme.

These new presidential helicopters are part of the 23 aircraft programme of record for the US Marine Corps.

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The latest Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot II contract comes after the company initially secured a $542m contract last June to build six VH-92A helicopters.

Under the terms of the new contract, Sikorsky will start deliveries of six VH-92A helicopters in 2022. The company plans to deliver the remaining production aircraft in 2022 and 2023.

PMA-274 presidential helicopter programme manager Eric Ropella said: “The programme continues to progress on budget and within our planned acquisition timeline.

“The award of LRIP Lot II reinforces the importance of this Marine Corps no-fail mission especially as we move into the next phase of government testing this year.”

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The US Navy considered a proposal to purchase a full fleet of the VH-92 presidential production helicopters in April 2018.

Sikorsky has already transferred five VH-92A helicopters into government test. The sixth is currently completing the modification and will enter government test this year.

The VH-92A programme, which is expected to enter Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) later this year, ensures long-term maintainability by using the FAA certified S-92 aircraft.

Sikorsky VH-92A programme director Dave Banquer said: “Now that we are ramping up production, the VH-92A programme is gaining momentum.”

Sikorsky is currently modifying all six of the production aircraft from the first LRIP contract at its plant in Stratford, Connecticut.

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