Vertical Flight

The Pentagon's top weapons tester is recommending the Combat Rescue Helicopter program office adjust its schedule to allow for flight testing in an "operationally representative configuration."

The Navy spent $1.4 billion on backup helicopters "it did not need" until fiscal year 2020, and will spend $2 million annually to store those aircraft as a result of requirements offices not informing one another of schedule changes, according to a new government watchdog report.

Vendors competing in the Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program expect the service to downselect to one design in early 2019.

The Navy has deemed a theoretical "MH-53K King Dragon" helicopter as "not practical," estimating procuring such a platform could cost up to $7.6 billion in 2014 constant-year dollars for 48 aircraft, while developing and testing the aircraft could run $2.6 billion, according to documents viewed by Inside the Navy.

Intercontinental ballistic missile bases in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming will receive new MH-139 helicopters from fiscal year 2021 through FY-27, as the Air Force looks for ways to mature the fleet faster.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is working closely with the Army on a program to partially automate aircraft and has planned a demonstration in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter next year, according to the project's program manager.

The Army is speeding up the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program thanks to lessons learned from the success of its Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator effort, according to the director of the Future Vertical Lift cross-functional team.

Sikorsky confirmed today it will not protest the Air Force's decision to replace the Bell UH-1N Huey with Boeing and Leonardo Helicopter's MH-139, likely freeing the service to move ahead with the long-awaited procurement.

Boeing and Leonardo Helicopter's MH-139 will become the next helicopter to patrol intercontinental ballistic missile fields, beating out two other bids to replace the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1N Hueys that have become a symbol of slow acquisition woes.