"US101’s cause wasn’t helped by massive cost overruns, delays, and failures to meet requirements." Not the aircraft's fault. US Secret Service had a case of "Requirements Runaway" with regard to protection, hardening and comms/avionics and Lockheed Martin, as Prime contractor / systems integrator, seemed to lose the ability to say "no". The result was a need for AW, the aircraft provider only, to extensively redesign the Merlin for the proposed "Batch 2 FOC" to provide the performance and electrical power needed to match the USSS demands. The redesign included uprated engines, transmissions, rotor system and, IIRC, an extended tail boom - so fairly fundamental redesign activity. Sikorsky had b1tched since the day they lost the contract, and played heavily on "All American" credentials. The financial crash came to their assistance as it enabled Obama to be seen to be both backing US Industry and saving money. The re-issued requirements were so biased towards Sikorsky that LM changed horses (reduced range, payload and mission specs) and AW / Boeing both pulled out. Shame really; I went in both mock-ups at HAI several years ago and the Merlin configuration was far bigger, more comfortable and I could stand up easily. The -92 betrayed some of its UH-60 origins with the size of the cabin feeling somewhat cramped to me. Interestingly, the VVIP Merlin has consistently sold well around the world to Governments who can afford it - it's size, smoothness and 3-engine redundancy playing no small part. The VH-92A will have nothing like the specs that were laid down on the VH-71, and smaller growth potential. It is, however, unashamedly an American product and a lot cheaper. YGWYPF…….