Sikorsky Awarded Contract To Build More Presidential Helicopters

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford-based Sikorsky has been contracted to build five more presidential helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps., officials announced Tuesday.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is under contract to manufacture a total of 23 VH-92A Presidential Helicopters by the end of 2023. Sikorsky is on schedule to deliver the first of the “next generation” presidential helicopter later this year, officials said.

Sikorsky was awarded a $478.6 million contract modification Feb. 5 for the additional five in the final lot of VH-92A presidential helicopters, the U.S. Department of Defense recently announced.

Sikorsky is completing final modifications on 12 of the production aircraft at its manufacturing facility in Stratford and Owego, New York.

“This contract to build more presidential helicopters shows our customer values Sikorsky’s proven record of supporting this no fail mission for decades and is confident in our ability to innovate and deliver this next generation aircraft flying the president well into the future,” Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said in a statement. “This aircraft has a special place in the hearts of our employees who treasure the legacy and look forward to watching the new White Top enter service.”

Col. Eric Ropella, PMA-274 presidential helicopter program manager, said the program “remains on budget and within our planned aircraft delivery schedule.”

"The award of this last lot of VH-92A aircraft solidifies the importance of the Marine Corps no-fail mission especially as we move into the next phase of government testing this year,” he said.

The VH-92A will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials.

Sikorsky brings “unmatched experience and a proven track record to this mission having flown every U.S. commander-in-chief since President Dwight D. Eisenhower,” according to a news release. “The VH-92A, also called a ‘White Top’ due to its notable white and green livery, will continue this legacy for decades to come.”