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Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel

2007 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel

The Lockheed VH-71 Kestrel is the U.S. military's attempt to replace its aging SH-3 "Sea King" family of helicopters, serving as the U.S. Marine Corps "Marine One" (transportation method, promoted to the President of the United States and his direct colleague). The work was fraught with delays and cost overruns, so much so that in 2009 President Obama proposed delaying the project or canceling it entirely.

After about $4. The project, which has cost $4 billion, was completed in June 2009, with the United States Navy (USN) receiving nine completed examples.

The Kestrel is based on the frame of the Italian-British AgustaWestland EH101/AW101 'Merlin', a medium lift, three-engine transport/utility helicopter type. The aircraft first flew in October 1987 and entered service in 1999.

The helicopter ended up in service with the Royal Navy, the Italian Navy and the Royal Danish Air Force. Since then, more operators have been added.

The multipurpose platform seemed well suited to transition into the federal VIP passenger role, so Lockheed Martin led an international joint venture to secure the EH101/AW101 role as the SH-3's successor to Ocean One. Helicopter manufacturers AgustaWestland of Italy and Bell Helicopter of the United States are also involved.

Lockheed's product was called "US101" at the time.

A formal Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in December 2003 covering approximately 23 helicopters in the Marine Corps One program (and as a successor to the U.S. government's VH-60N fleet). The program also referred to the aircraft as "VXX," and both AgustaWestland and Sikorsky encountered RFPs.

After reviewing the offer, the US101 was selected in January 2005. The helicopter was subsequently designated the VH-71 "Kestrel".

However, the Kestrel project was riddled with problems from the start. The implementation of the helicopter program was often delayed and there were many development problems. Coupled with the ever-increasing program costs, the continued focus and investment of the U.S. government to get the Kestrel program through did little good.

During the second half of the decade there was much debate about the future of the helicopter, culminating in a cessation of production in 2009, despite the work being done so far and the high costs associated with ending the project completely.

Existing fleet of nine VH-71 helicopters sold to Canada, these will be used as spares for the RCAF CH-149 Cormorant SAR helicopter fleet (also based on the Merlin series).