The HH-60W helped rescue a pilot in Iran. Here’s why the Air Force might not buy more.
The Air Force in fiscal 2023 attempted to cap the Jolly Green II’s fleet at 75 aircraft, but lawmakers have pushed back.
The Air Force in fiscal 2023 attempted to cap the Jolly Green II’s fleet at 75 aircraft, but lawmakers have pushed back.
“Especially from an X2 standpoint, the largest procurement out there is really NGRC. And that recapitalization of the helicopter fleet in Europe is the largest thing we see today at least in the next five or 10 years,” said Sikorsky boss Rich Benton.
The Army spent 2024 pushing its new “transformation in contact” initiative while also pivoting away from several key weapon development initiatives.
In 2024, the US Army moved out on plans to better team up soldiers and machines on the battlefield, while facing some policy and technology challenges.
"We don't [want to] inadvertently allow the resources we're spending on soldiers and families to crowd out the modernization that we have to continue with,” Wormuth told reporters.
The service wants information on Group 4 or 5 drone designs that can carry a range of sensors, and also launch new weapons like the developmental launched effects.
Special operators had planned for FARA to take the role of the AH-6, but the program’s cancellation “changed our equation,” a SOCOM official said.
Army acquisition head Doug Bush said he and Army Futures Command head Gen. James Rainey expect to have a plan rolled out sometime this summer.
Sikorsky is using remaining FARA dollars to test out the new T901 engine in anticipation of integrating it on a UH-60 M Black Hawk later this year.
Boeing recently announced the Block II helo's first maiden flight and plans to deliver the first production aircraft to the service in the coming weeks.
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
“The Connecticut delegation has questions about why, with that [FY24] appropriation in hand, this happened,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn.
NGRC requirements mainly cover a future medium lift helicopter that costs no more than €35 million ($38.2 million) per aircraft and provisionally planned to enter service between 2035 and 2040.
The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) platform joins the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) on the budget cutting room floor for America's largest service.