VH-71/VXX Presidential Helicopter Program: Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
The VH-71 program is intended to provide 23 new presidential helicopters to replace the current fleet of 19 aging presidential helicopters. As part of its proposed FY2010 Department of Defense (DoD) budget, the Administration proposed terminating the VH-71 program in response to substantial cost growth and schedule delays in the program. As a successor to the VH-71 program, the Administration proposed beginning a new presidential helicopter program in FY2010 called the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program. The Administration's proposed FY2010 budget requested $85.2 million in Navy research and development funding for the VH-71 program. Of this total, $55.2 million is for terminating the VH-71 program and $30 million is for initial studies on the proposed successor VXX program. The issue for Congress is whether to approve the Administration's proposal to terminate the VH-71 program and initiate a successor VXX program, or pursue another course, such as continuing the VH-71 program in some restructured form. Congress's decision on the issue could affect DoD funding requirements, the schedule for replacing the 19 older helicopters, and the helicopter industrial base. This report will be updated as events warrant. The appendix presents excerpts from a May 19, 2009, hearing on FY2010 Navy aviation programs before the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 22, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA512641
Entities
People
- Jeremiah Gertler
Organizations
- Library of Congress