Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin formally announced Monday they had joined forces to offer Sikorsky’s H-92 for the next Presidential helicopter contest, now dubbed VXX. The Lockheed had teamed with Agusta Westland for the winning US101 in the original Presidential helicopter replacement program, the VH-71, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates cancelled in 2009. The new helicopter team also submitted a response Monday to the Navy’s request for information on the VXX program. Sikorsky’s Scott Starrett said that the two contractors had teamed for nearly 40 years on Naval Hawk helicopters so has “a proven and formidable track record.” Lockheed’s Dan Spoor, noted that the combination of Sikorsky’s production of and support for the Marine One fleet and Lockheed’s systems integration experience “will allow our team to offer a low-risk transport solution.” (Sikorsky release; Lockheed Martin release)
The Space Force relies entirely on data—but it lacks the systems and tools to analyze and share that data properly even within the service, let alone with international partners, officials said May 1.