DeLauro Praises New Presidential Helicopter Program

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today in reaction to the joint response Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin submitted to the U.S. Navy's Request For Information (RFI) for the presidential helicopter (VXX) program.

The VXX program replaces the failed VH-71 program, which was plagued by excessive cost overruns and schedule delays. That contract, awarded in 2005, based the new presidential helicopter on the EH-101, a helicopter produced by the joint British-Italian venture of AugustaWestland. The Department of Defense ultimately decided to end the program and to re-bid the contract, which Congresswoman DeLauro had long called for, and is expected to progress this year.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "I applaud the Department of Defense's decision to end the beleaguered VH-71 program last year and to move forward with the new presidential helicopter program, VXX. With decades of experience providing a helicopter that can safely transport the president on time and on budget, I have always believed that Sikorsky and its workers are best positioned to provide the new fleet of helicopters. I am, therefore, happy to see that Sikorsky, partnered with Lockheed Martin, is responding to the request for information, and I look forward to supporting this process."