Second VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Begins Mission Systems Integration

OWEGO, NY:  Lockheed Martin is integrating sophisticated mission systems aboard a second VH-71 test vehicle at the Presidential Helicopter Integration Facility in Owego, NY.

Over the last eight months, four test vehicles have been transported to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane from AgustaWestland’s facility in Yeovil, England, where they were built.

Two of the helicopters are in flight test at Patuxent River, and two more will be equipped  with mission systems that will enable the VH-71's use as a command and control platform by the office of the president. Following integration of advanced communications systems, the recently arrived helicopter dubbed TV-4 will validate the in-flight performance of systems previously evaluated in laboratories. TV-3 also is undergoing integration in Owego.

The VH-71 program anticipates achieving several more significant milestones this year with the arrival of all five of the initial phase, or Increment One, operational helicopters.

The industry team completed a number of important program accomplishments since 2007, including bringing systems integration labs online in New York and Maryland, and completing 98 percent of the mission systems software coding for the VH-71 Increment One aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the U.S. Navy’s VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program with overall responsibility for the program and total aircraft system performance. More than 200 suppliers in 41 states support the VH-71 program.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is the global leader in designing, manufacturing and supporting the world’s most technologically advanced helicopters. With more than 100 years of experience in the aerospace industry, AgustaWestland provides a full range of rotorcraft for every commercial, government and military application, and an unrivalled capability in training and support solutions.