Vertical Flight

The Army is executing a multiyear procurement contract for UH-60M utility helicopters with Sikorsky that obligates the government to buy 51 fewer helicopters, or 20 percent less, between fiscal years 2017 and 2021 than the service originally proposed to Congress when seeking authorization for a five-year deal, offsetting the cuts in part with foreign military sales.

The Trump administration is echoing concerns raised by the Obama administration about the ability of the aerospace sector to sustain the unique design and manufacturing skills needed to ensure future U.S. military combat aircraft can be both designed and produced, according to a report by the Pentagon office charged with monitoring the defense industrial base.

The Army on July 27 awarded an engineering and manufacturing development contract to Boeing for upgrades to the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.

The Army, which last month awarded a multiyear procurement contract for the Black Hawk helicopter, is laying the groundwork for a potential expansion of that award.

The Air Force on Thursday published its final request for proposals 188503 for the best-value competition to replace the 1960s-era Bell UH-1N Huey fleet.

Congressional appropriators intend to provide a funding boost for procurement of several Army aviation platforms in fiscal year 2018, but have elected to hold others steady.

The Defense Department has certified a new multiyear procurement for the UH-60M Black Hawk, and the Army expects to award the contract within the next week.

The House Appropriations Committee released a draft version of its fiscal year 2018 defense spending bill Sunday night that would boost weapons procurement by $18.6 billion above what is sought by the Trump administration and $24 billion more than what was enacted in FY-17.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis plans to ask Congress to reach the bipartisan consensus needed to pass the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2018 defense budget and will pledge to follow up in FY-19 with a request that will increase the size of the military.