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1 1 (July 09, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdasg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: VH-92 Presidential Helicopter The Marine Corps operates a fleet of helicopters to provide transportation for the President, Vice President, andother senior officials. These aircraft are known as Marine One when the Presidentis aboard. The VH-92programis intended to provide 23 new helicopters to replace the current fleet of aging VH-3D and VH-60N presidential helicopters. Figure I. VH-92A Heads of State, and other officialparties as directed bythe Director of the White House Military Office. In addition to providing that transportation, presidentialhelicopters are equipped with specialized s elf-defense features and communications systems thatpermit the Presidentto carry out critical command functions while aboard. Presidential helicopters need to belarge enoughto carry a certain number ofpas sengers and mission equipment, but small enough to operate fromthe White Houselawn. The fleet ofexecutive helicopters are known as White Tops for their distinctive paint scheme; otherhelicopters operatedby HMX-1 thatcarry cargo and support staff are called Green Tops. VH-92s are being procured only for the White Top role. Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Hunter Helis. An earlier replacement program, the VH-71, was terminated in 2009 following substantial cost growth and schedule delays. Following that termination, in FY2010, the Obama Administration proposed anew presidential helicopter program, called the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program, which became today's VH-92 program. Of the 23 VH-92 helicopters the Marine Corps plans to acquire, six were acquired through research and development funding for development and test prior to 2019, and four of those are to be outfitted to join the operational fleet. Congress appropriated $649 million for six production VH-92s in FY2019 and $641 million for another sixin FY2020. The Administration's FY2021 budget request proposes $610 million for the final five helicopters. The total programacquisition cost, including development and procurement, is projected at $4.9 billion, 5.6% less than initially estimated in 2014. Delivery of the 17 production VH-92s is scheduledto begin in April2021. N\ cn of a~~ti~H~o >sr Presidentialhelicopters are operated by a Marine Corps squadron called Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX- 1), headquartered at Marine Corps Airfield Quantico, VA. The Department of Defense (DOD) states that HMX-I's helicopters are to provide s afe, reliable, and timely transportation for the President, Vice President, Foreign Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman I t Class Perry Aston. The existing presidentialhelicopter fleet includes 11 VH- 3D helicopters that achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 1975, eight VH-60N helicopters that achieved IOC in 1989, and four test and training helicopters. The helicopters have had theirs ervicelives extended and have been regularly upgraded over time. (Examples of upgrades include more effective main rotor blades, improved communications, and better cockpit displays.) A A '2 July 9, 2020 pgpg\\\ \\