Early indications from the
Pentagon’s Mobility Capabilities Requirements Study suggest no need for additional strategic airlift beyond the funded procurements of re-engined C-5s and 205 C-17s already planned, says U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.
The 2005 Mobility Capabilities Study had suggested a requirement of roughly 300 strategic airlifters, and Schwartz says he sees “no major shift in the demand signal.” The 2005 study, however, was discredited in much of Washington as a budget-driven formality under former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and a new study has been eagerly awaited.
New C-17s Not Needed, DOD Analysis Shows | AVIATION WEEK
Air Force Cargo Aircraft: $674 million, not requested, for three additional C-17s; $903 million for five C/HC/MC-130Js and advance procurement of 20 C/HC/MC-130s; $319 million for eight C-27Js; $199.2 million for three C-37s, an increase of $132.8 million and two aircraft above the request; and $354 million for three C- 40s, an increase of $200 million and two aircraft above the request.
The Senate on Thursday voted to scuttle money for a second engine powering the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, handing President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates a second victory on Pentagon priorities.
In a voice vote, the Senate struck $438.9 million in funding from the 2010 defense authorization bill for the second engine, which is produced by General Electric and Rolls-Royce.
TheHill.com - Senate kills engine funds, handing Obama 2nd win
The U.S. Department of Defense issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on 18 December 2003 for the supply of 23 helicopters to replace the 11 VH-3Ds and 8 VH-60Ns of USMC HMX-1 squadron. This requirement was given the designation VXX (V being the prefix for VIP aircraft and XX representing the then unspecified numerical part of the designation).
Both AgustaWestland and Sikorsky responded to the RFP. Sikorsky proposed the VH-92, a variant of the H-92 Superhawk, in partnership with FlightSafety International, L-3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, Vought Aircraft Industries, and GE-Aviation. On 28 January 2005 the Department of Defense announced that it had selected the US101 for the VXX program. The US101 team was awarded a US$1.7 billion contract for the VXX system development and demonstration (SDD) phase.[8] The VH-71 having 3 engines while the VH-92 has 2 may have been a factor in the selection of the VH-71.[9]
The price of the development later rose by 40% to $2.4 billion.[10] The full cost of the project is estimated at $6.1 Bn,[11] although some analysts expect the cost to rise above $7Bn, making this the most expensive helicopter ever, with a unit cost of $270m.[12] As of March 2008 the program cost totaled $11.2Bn, making each helicopter more expensive than the Boeing 747-based VC-25s that serve as Air Force One after adjustment for inflation.[1][13]
VH-71 Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
We were pleased to see the House join the Senate in voting to end the F-22 jet fighter program. The votes were important victories in President Obama’s effort to ensure that the Pentagon spends precious tax dollars on essential equipment — not glitzy, self-indulgent toys.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/opinion/03mon1.html
With this kind of purchasing track record on programs and the recent decision by DoD to put the VH-71 back in place, the decision on the F-22 which will impact 95,000 jobs in 45 states seems to be senseless when you consider that the Air Force is looking at G-5's to wisk VIPS around and are getting additional C-17's crammed down their throats they don't need.
