The contract is valued at 113.5 million USD. It is a framework agreement and will remain in force until November 2031. The contracting authority may activate individual task orders on an ongoing basis as required. A statement from the Department of War indicates that the services may include logistical support, the supply of spare parts, personnel training, repairs and inspections of components, as well as engineering analyses. The work will be carried out at Sikorsky’s facilities in Stratford, as well as at selected United States Navy and United States Marine Corps aviation bases.
The Department of War has procured additional operational support services for the VH-92A Patriot / Photo: USMC
The VH-92A Patriot helicopters are a special variant of the commercial S-92 Superhawk, prepared for the transport of the President of the United States and other key federal administration officials. In this role, they replace the aging VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk helicopters. In total, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. delivered 23 aircraft, with the last one handed over to VMX-1 in the summer of 2024. Operational flights with the President began in August 2024, when Joe Biden used the helicopters during a visit to Chicago.
The VH-92A Patriot acquisition program itself began in 2015. Due to specific tactical and technical requirements, the baseline airframes had to undergo extensive modification. In addition, delays in obtaining the necessary certifications from U.S. security and protective services also proved to be an issue.
