USAF CSAR-X Helicopter Procurement Process

[SASless]

The Navy went with the 101 for "political reasons" as suggested by some of our posters....now the USAF is going that way it appears. What is the problem with the S-92 or the Sikorksy marketing effort? Could the current labor problems at Sikorsky be playing a role here or is it merely technical issues with the 92 as compared to the 101 for this selection?




DoD reviews Air Force helicopter; said not to intervene

By Rebecca Christie
Last Update: 5:16 PM ET Mar 23, 2006


WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Defense Department on Thursday reviewed Air Force plans to buy new rescue helicopters, but analysts say it declined to intervene heavily.

The Air Force wants to buy about 140 new helicopters in its CSAR-X program, as it calls its quest for a next-generation combat search and rescue helicopter. Last year, the Pentagon put the program on hold during budget deliberations and the quadrennial defense review.

This week, the program went through a new process known as an "investment review," to see how the new aircraft fits with existing Pentagon aircraft fleets. The Pentagon confirmed that the meeting took place Thursday as planned, but declined to comment further.
Analysts said the review could have pitted Defense Department planners against the Air Force, with a major impact on the coming competition. Instead, however, it left the Air Force's plans intact, said Loren Thompson, a well-connected Washington defense analyst.

"The program is now back on track, there's not going to be a big holdup," Thompson said. He said a different outcome could have thrown a big wrench in the Pentagon's purchase protocols, since it is outside the normal requirements review process.

If the program proceeds as expected, the Pentagon will review the final purchase plans in a Defense Acquisition Board review this summer. That will pave the way for a competition likely to be dominated by three candidate aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) is considered the front-runner with its US-101 helicopter, which won a high-profile contest to build the next Marine One presidential transport. Other contenders include Sikorksy Aircraft Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX) that makes the S-92, and the Boeing Co. (BA) CH-47 Chinook, already used by the U.S. Army.

"I think that there's no question that the Air Force is leaning toward US 101 as the solution to the mission," Thompson said.

The Air Force did not have immediate comment on Thursday's review or its timetable for next steps.

[Dave_Jackson]

Maybe rotorcraft are going the way of the automobile?
Foreign engineering and local assembly.

[NickLappos]

The article posted has two sections - one that reports on the DOD review of the USAF process, and one that reports Lorren Thompson's opinion. Thompson is a paid shill of Lockheed, and yet is reported as if he is independant.
So far, no spilled beans on the USAF preference, it is a three way race between the S92, the EH-01 and the CH-47.

[hotzenplotz]

Sikorsky strike worries Congressional delegation

March 24, 2006, 3:28 PM EST

STRATFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut's Congressional delegation warned Friday that a prolonged strike at Sikorsky Aircraft could hurt the helicopter maker's ability to win more military contracts.

Nearly 3,600 Teamsters have been on strike since Feb. 20 over proposed increases to employees' health insurance contributions in the company's contract offer. It is the first strike at the company in Connecticut since 1963.

Connecticut's two senators and five representatives sent a letter to union and company officials saying they are "deeply troubled" by the prolonged strike and urged them to return to the bargaining table.

Sikorsky has more than $7.5 billion in pending business for military and commercial helicopter and parts production, according to the letter. That amount is likely to increase this year because President Bush's budget request includes additional orders for 81 Black Hawk helicopters that Sikorsky makes, the delegation wrote.

"We are concerned, however, that it may be more difficult to persuade our colleagues of the need to increase Black Hawk procurement above the President's budget request if the strike continues without prospect of a resolution," they wrote. "We also are worried that Sikorsky's competitors may raise the issue of a prolonged strike with the Air Force in an effort to gain an advantage in the competition for the Air Force's Search and Rescue helicopter contract _ a competition that we all believe Sikorsky should win."

Telephone messages were left Friday for company and union officials.

Union officials said on their Web page that they met with a federal mediator until nearly midnight Thursday and that talks would continue Friday and throughout the weekend.

Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--sikorskystrike0324mar24,0,4368121.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

[Geoffersincornwall]

I have it on good authority that Sikorsky are so concerned about the vibration problems (and noise footprint) of the S92 that they are considering replacing the rotorhead with a five-bladed version. Any comments pse

G

:)

[Jack Carson]

Over the years the empty and maximum gross weights of S-92 have grown. The military version of the S-92 began as a 13,087 pound machine with a MGW of 23,500. The premise was that H-60 commonality would be retained. Over the years the military variant of the S-92 has grown progressively heavier. Military variants have gross weights approaching or exceeding 30,000 lbs. This increased weight capability has been accomplished by only minimally growing the main rotor diameter from 53.7 ft to 56.4 ft and by increasing the operating rotor speed 5%. These changes provide for marginal performance improvements while leaving little room for future performance growth.

Noise signiture and rotor induced vibrations may also be direct results of pushing the existing rotor system a little too hard. A larger rotor with an additional rotor blade or blades has been an ongoing discussion point.