Despite funding shift, Marine One on schedule
Despite the Navy’s decision to scale back initial funding for the program, Lockheed Martin continues to ready a new facility opened last year in Owego, N.Y

Despite the Navy’s decision to scale back initial funding for the program, Lockheed Martin continues to ready a new facility opened last year in Owego, N.Y., that will integrate systems and outfit cabins on the VH-71, the much-anticipated replacement for the U.S. Presidential helicopter fleet. The popular name Kestrel has been suggested for the VH-71, but remains to be officially adopted by the Navy.

An initial EH101 test aircraft made a first VH-71 program-related flight at Owego in October. Based on Lockheed Martin’s US101, a derivative of the EH101 built by AgustaWestland, the VH-71 is aimed at satisfying the requirement for the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command VXX program for Presidential transport to serve as replacements for aging Sikorsky helicopters.