PICTURED: Next-generation Marine One prototype lands on White House lawn as it undergoes extensive testing
- New Sikorsky VH-92 Marine One prototype was tested on the White House lawn on September 22
- It may have been a test to see whether the new aircraft damaged the White House landscaping
- Navy has ordered 23 Sikorsky VH-92 helicopters to replace the Marine One ‘white top’ fleet
The first images have emerged of the prototype helicopter that will become the next Marine One landing on the White House lawn.
The test flight was conducted on September 22, and may have been intended to test whether the new aircraft did any damage to the White House landscaping, which has been an issue with the program, The Drive reported.
The prototype Sikorsky VH-92 is slated to replace the current VH-3D ‘Sea King’ and VH-60N ‘White Hawk’ helicopters in the Marine One ‘white top’ fleet, which is responsible for transporting the president.
The Navy has ordered 23 of the new aircraft at an estimated total cost of $5.06 billion.
The first image of a prototype Sikorsky VH-92 (above) in Marine One livery shows the craft landing on the White House lawn
The prototype Sikorsky VH-92 (above) is slated to replace the current VH-3D ‘Sea King’ and VH-60N ‘White Hawk’ helicopters in the Marine One ‘white top’ fleet
Currently, the Sikorsky VH-92 prototype is undergoing extensive testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.
It is projected to go into service in 2019 and fully replace the existing white top fleet by 2023. Increasing repair costs and delays led the the replacement program.
Without offering specifics, an April 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office suggested that the new prototype was ‘not meeting a key system capability requirement to land the aircraft without adversely affecting the landing zone (including the White House Lawn).’
Lockheed Martin, a subcontractor on the project, is seen integrating mission and communications systems into the Sikorsky VH-92 prototype at its facility in Owego, New York
The report stated that a solution to the problem was expected to be implemented about five months into the start of production, which is slated to begin next year.
The new prototype is based on the Sikorsky’s S-92; a twin-engine, medium-lift model.
The new helicopters will be outfitted with executive interiors and military mission support systems, including triple electrical power and redundant flight controls.
Full specs on the new Sikorsky VH-92, and how it compares to the Sea King, are not yet available.
The current VH-3D ‘Sea King’ used in the Marine One ‘white top’ fleet is seen at the White House on Tuesday