Delay Proposed On Presidential Helicopter

Team Infidel

Washington Post
October 26, 2007
Pg. D4
Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter has recommended delaying production of the new Lockheed Martin presidential helicopter for a second time.
In a budget memorandum to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England, Winter proposes postponing the planned purchase of four helicopters until fiscal 2010, using the $556 million earmarked for production to continue research, to bolster a reserve fund to cover expected cost growth and for other purposes.
The $6.1 billion program has sustained growth in the helicopter's cost and weight since Lockheed won the contract in January 2005, and this would be the second year in a row that production has been delayed. The helicopter will be based on the company's U.S. 101 medium light helicopter, above.