PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER: PROGRAM CONTINUES TO MAKE DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS WHILE ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

摘要

Acquisition cost estimates for the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (also known as the VH-92A) have declined from $5.18 billion to $4.95 billion, for 23 new helicopters, since the program started in April 2014, and the program remains within its planned schedule. The contractor attributes this cost decrease to several factors: stable requirements, a low number of design changes, and program efficiencies. The program has delayed some program milestones-for example, its low-rate production decision-by 5 months from its original baseline goal. Although this remains within the approved schedule, the program will have less time than planned between the end of development testing and start of operational assessment. Program officials told GAO they expect to have enough information from both the government-led integrated testing and the operational assessment to inform the low-rate production decision.