Air Force awards contract for new helicopter (24. September 2018)
Today the Air Force awarded the first portion of a $2.38 billion firm-fixed-price contract to The Boeing Company for a UH-1N Replacement helicopter.
"Strong competition drove down costs for the program, resulting in $1.7 billion in savings to the taxpayer,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson.
The original service cost estimate was $4.1 billion.
Today’s award of approximately $375 million is for the first four helicopters and includes the integration of non-developmental items. This additional equipment integrated into the aircraft will ensure the helicopters are ready to meet warfighter needs upon delivery.
The total program cost for the UH-1N Replacement Program reflects the exercise of all options and provides for the acquisition and sustainment of up to 84 MH-139 helicopters, training devices and associated support equipment to replace the legacy UH-1Ns. The new helicopter will be an important tool for Airmen charged with securing and defending the nation's intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Air Force will also use the aircraft for training, test and operational support airlift.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... elicopter/
Contracts for Sept. 24, 2018
AIR FORCE
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $375,550,368 firm-fixed-price contract for the non-developmental item integration of four aircraft to replace the UH-1N. This is the basic award of a contract (including options) valued at approximately $2,380,000,000, which will provide for the acquisition and sustainment of up to 84 MH-139 helicopters, training devices, and associated support equipment. The location of performance is predominantly in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If all options are exercised, the work is expected to be completed by September 2031. This award is a result of a competitive acquisition. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $98,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8739-18-C-5030).
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ ... e/1643658/#
Die Konkurrenten waren Sikorsky, mit dem
HH-60U Black Hawk, und die Sierra Nevada Corporation, die der USAF generalüberholte "Black Hawk" angeboten hat:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedm ... 3480417076
SNC believes few new data rights make its UH-1N replacement offering a winner (31. Juli 2018)
SNC announced on 23 July it submitted its Sierra Force helicopter as its final bid in the USAF’s effort to replace its ageing Bell UH-1N helicopters used for VIP transportation in the Washington area and for nuclear missile silo security, among other missions. Sierra Force is a UH-60A upgraded into a UH-60L model, according to a company statement.
SNC will purchase divested UH-60As from the US Army via the service’s Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Transaction (BEST) programme. Then it will convert the aircraft’s exterior and interior, effectively upgrading it to a UH-60L model.
The Sierra Force UH-60L will be equipped with two new General Electric Aviation T-701D engines and a new glass cockpit and avionics suite. SNC will also use a metal airframe, different from composite materials, which the company believes will enable a longer service life and lower overall maintenance costs.
https://www.janes.com/article/82116/snc ... g-a-winner
Sierra Nevada utilising army’s Black Hawk exchange programme for UH-1N replacement (31. Mai 2018)
Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC) will utilise a US Army used Black Hawk helicopter exchange programme in its pursuit of the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Bell UH-1N Huey replacement effort, according to a company official.
The programme is the Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Transaction (BEST), which the Army uses to divest A-model Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks out of its inventory. The service can pursue a one-for-one aircraft exchange or other equitable trade, sale, or reimbursable transfer, provided all proceeds are used to purchase, rent, or lease a replacement aircraft, according to a service statement.
Jack Bailey, SNC senior director for proposal developments, told reporters on 31 May that SNC is offering its Sierra Force solution to replace the USAF’s UH-1N fleet. The aircraft utilises a modernised and remanufactured UH-60L Black Hawk aircraft equipped with a Garmin G5000H glass digital avionics suite and mission-specific equipment.
Bailey said SNC will acquire divested UH-60A helicopters and transport them to Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas, for inspection and A-to-L-model conversion. Once released to SNC, Bailey said the aircraft will be sent back to a Huntsville, Alabama, facility where it will undergo additional upgrades, installation of the Garmin cockpit display, and additional missionisation before being delivered to the USAF.
L3 Technologies and Ace Aeronautics are serving as subcontractors on SNC’s bid.
https://www.janes.com/article/80545/sie ... eplacement
