lockheed lockheed martin variant built replace marine presidential transport fleet developed built led team february president barack_obama asked secretary defense placing project hold high cost billion planned helicopters june terminated contract spending billion taking delivery helicopters sold canada million use spare parts fleet search rescue helicopters development competition designated originally developed produced joint venture italian companies merged july signed year agreement jointly market produce support medium lift helicopter derivative designated united_states companies envisaged aircraft performing major roles combat search rescue search rescue executive transport signed agreement undertake final assembly pact produce main blades main fuselage sections facility company produce components including gearbox italy facility represents work share remaining work share split december issued supply helicopters replace squadron performs role presidential helicopter transportation requirement given designation companies responded proposed variant partnership january announced selected winner speculated engines decisive factor twin engined team awarded billion contract phase july given designation program problems delays delays engineering issues plagued development estimated cost developing modifying aircraft risen billion passed billion expected production fleet march program cost risen projected cost total billion million helicopter dialogue offering stated program performance unsatisfactory march report lockheed protests boeing mentioned received little confidence rating past performance unsatisfactory performance current contract presidential helicopter evaluated highly relevant stated reliably meet important schedule requirements difficulty systems engineering flow downs lockheed responded government insistence extensive modifications source cost report concluded development allowed flexibility trade offs considered customer december officials met discuss program future pentagon apparently wanted terminate setbacks budget issues design problems white_house overruled decision cancel program effectively placed hold options considered july called reach operating capability second phase development expected start entering service october commenting defense programs likely cut following change government logistics stated high list rising cost program contrasted poorly president barack_obama stance government spending white_house gathering february president obama commented process gone going fix additionally stated helicopter perfectly adequate march projected total cost planned billion april proposed defense budget announced defense secretary included funding june announced contract officially canceled remaining funds upgrades existing fleet helicopters completed time cancellation aircraft cancellation provoked commentators speak impact future acquisition contracts european businesses failure acquisition process demonstrated scare away potential partners march coalition encouraged administration continue variation program letter issued members congress urged president support program july approved million operational options restructuring estimated shutting production upgrading existing fleet later implementing successor program cost billion reported new fleet available point existing helicopters remained service years old terminating existing program waste billion sunk costs following president decision terminate program variety law makers think tanks media outlets publicly concluded cost effective time consuming continue variation existing program proposed options option continue program versions additional cost estimated billion entry service date option program provide aircraft additional cost billion operational option provide aircraft replace current fleet additional cost option estimated billion entry service option upgrade extend life current fleet cost billion meet standards required future presidential helicopters require replacement sooner addition cost new program industry officials stated merely extend operating life current fleet risky choice secure costly maintain sides aisle including senator representative outspoken critics pentagon matter recently claiming conversation outside partnership regret analyst stated believe story secretary gates convincing case terminating program alternative helicopter satisfy range requirements landing white_house lawn december president obama signed joint house senate defense appropriation bill includes million funding marine program million technologies developed program million navy initial studies new program february navy issued request information aviation industry april announced team offering instead june boeing announced considering licensed version renewed program bell boeing boeing june purchased million canada use spare parts fleet search rescue helicopter based transferred stripped sensitive parts total seven remained condition media reports stated canada studying certified operational use manufacturer openly stated support regeneration initiative testing test test vehicle initial flight july facility designated initial testing united_states tests included landing lawn white_house production maiden flight september air_force transported helicopter iii naval air station river maryland testing production joined test program beginning ground testing early december variants initial production aircraft presidential helicopter replacement program designed meet urgent need new helicopters provide operational helicopters increased range upgraded navigation communications systems fulfill white_house requirements maintain continuity government allow president carry duties office competitions competing contracts aircraft rescue replacement project originally won november subject second competition aircraft common vertical lift support program operators united_states_of_america united states marine_corps proposed marine fleet specifications specifications specifically data jane world aircraft general characteristics crew capacity seated troops length diameter height disc area weight max takeoff weight powerplant shp power performance exceed speed knots mph cruise speed knots mph range service ceiling rate climb min disc loading power mass shp
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel