Accession Number:

AD1167516

Title:

Presidential Helicopter: Program Continues to Make Development Progress While Addressing Challenges

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

United States Government Accountability Office

Personal Author(s):

• Sullivan, Michael J
• Thomas, Bruce H
• Bonner, Marvin E
• Oden, Bonita J
• Anderson, Peter
• Collymore, Juana S
• Royer, Danny C
• Ahearn, Marie

Report Date:

2019-04-11

Pagination or Media Count:

20

Abstract:

The mission of the presidential helicopter fleet is to provide safe, reliable, and timely transportation in support of the President. The Navy plans to acquire a fleet of 23 VH-92A helicopters to replace the current Marine Corps fleet of VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft. Initial delivery of VH-92Apresidential helicopters is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2020 with production ending in fiscal year 2023. The total cost of this acquisition program was originally estimated at almost 5.2 billion. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 included a provision for GAO to report on the VH-92A program annually, until the Navy awards the full-rate production contract. This report discusses 1 the extent to which the program is meeting its cost and schedule goals and 2 challenges facing the program in system development. To determine how the program is progressing, GAO analyzed program documents and spoke with officials from the program office, the Defense Contract Management Agency, contractors, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, and Department of Defense, Developmental Test and Evaluation. GAO also assessed the programs integrated master schedule against GAO best practices. GAO is not making any recommendations in this report, but will continue to monitor the potential cost growth and schedule delays as the program responds to challenges meeting capability requirements.

Descriptors:

• test and evaluation
• congress
• national security
• united states government
• united states
• aircrafts
• contracts
• department of defense
• procurement
• best practices
• contractors
• cost estimates
• manufacturing
• acquisition
• business administration
• developmental tests
• electronic mail

Subject Categories:

• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies
• Helicopters
• Administration and Management
• Government and Political Science

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]