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STRATFORD, Conn., July 26 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin announced Monday it had completed the VH-92A Critical Design Review for the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program. Completion of the review means the program is ready to proceed with assembly, testing and evaluation, the company said in a statement.
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Team members for the joint program between Naval Air Systems Command and Lockheed subsidiary Sikorksy Aircraft met earlier this month with key government and industry collaborators for the in-depth review.
The VH-92A team was able to successfully demonstrate that the design will meet system requirements.
Several milestones have been completed ahead of schedule, Lockheed said, and the latest shows that NAVAIR and Sikorsky are on the same page.
Sikorsky received a $1.24 billion U.S. Navy fixed-price incentive engineering and manufacturing development contract in May 2014 for 21 operational and two test aircraft.
The new presidential helicopter's fielding is planned for 2020, with production ending in 2023.
Under the deal, Sikorsky will use its production S-92 aircraft and integrate government-defined mission systems and an executive interior.
Two engineering development model aircraft are undergoing the required modifications, with the configured aircraft flying next year.
