Sikorsky‘s VH-92A rotary aircraft passed its initial flight assessment to replace older VH-3D and VH-60N units as the presidential helicopter, USNI reported Tuesday.
Sikorsky received a $1.2B contract in 2014 to build up to 23 new helicopters, right before Lockheed Martin‘s acquisition of the company.
The first new helicopter landed on the White House during a test flight conducted Sept. 22.
The Naval Air Systems Command expects the new helicopter to achieve initial operational capability by late 2020, with full production to continue through 2023.