Lawmakers Urge Secretary of Defense to Expedite Replacement of Aging UH-1N Helicopters

WASHINGTON, DC (April 26, 2017) — U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in expressing ‘grave concern' regarding delays in replacing Vietnam-era UH-1N helicopters and urging the Secretary of Defense to expedite the fielding of new helicopters. While these helicopters are responsible for protecting our nation's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fleet and National Capitol Region, U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) has deemed these helicopters insufficient for addressing current threats to our national security. The U.S. Air Force's acquisition program to replace these aging helicopters has suffered repeated delays.

"We write to bring your attention to our grave concern regarding continued delays to modernize the UH-1N "Huey" helicopter fleet that protects our critical inter-continental ballistic missile sites and performs the continuity of government mission for the National Capitol Region," the Members wrote in a letter to the Secretary of Defense today. "The U.S. Air Force's UH-1N replacement program has been identified as deficient since 2001. The average age of the UH-1N is more than 40 years, and continues to operate under national security waivers because it is incapable of meeting requirements for speed, range, payload, armament, and survivability. Given this situation and STRATCOM's repeated urgings to address it, we urge you to do everything you can to expedite the fielding of new helicopters that can support these critical missions."

Today's letter was also signed by U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Tom Reed (R-NY), and Adrian Smith (R-NE), and U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and John Hoeven (R-ND).

The full letter is available here.

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