Army UH-60M Program takes $6.6 Billion Hit

from Aviation Week:

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U.S. Army Black Hawk Takes $6.6B Hit in POM

Oct 7, 2008
Bettina H. Chavanne
http://www.aviationweek.com/media/im...M-Sikorsky.jpg
photo: Sikorsky
The U.S. Army’s Black Hawk UH-60M helicopter stands to take a $6.6 billion loss in funding if the service’s Program Objective Memorandum (POM) for fiscal 2010-2015 is carried out as written now.

The Army has a multiyear, multiservice contract with Sikorsky to procure UH-60M and HH-60M aircraft. Sikorsky just flight-tested the first UH-60M upgrade, the first fly-by-wire transport helicopter for the service. Some 900 of the 1,227 Black Hawks slated for Army procurement are expected to be M-upgrade aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010 (Aerospace DAILY, Sept. 2).

But according to the POM – still an internal Pentagon document subject to changes and congressional input – funding begins to drop off in FY ’10, with 15 fewer aircraft slated for procurement. Overall, 321 UH-60Ms will be cut.

The embattled Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), still reeling from a Nunn-McCurdy cost-growth breach, may face cuts of its own – up to $3.4 billion. The first ARH unit is planned for July 2011, but further delays are expected, according to the POM, pending certification to Congress from the Defense Department’s acquisitions chief.

A Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) meeting once scheduled for July 2 to approve ARH low-rate initial production was pushed back to June 2009 while the DAB instead was asked to bless the restructuring and approve procurement of 10 production-representative test vehicles to keep initial operational test and evaluation on track for June 2010 (Aerospace DAILY, May 5).

The Army cites multiple breaches to the current acquisition program baseline as its rationale for making funding adjustments. And there may be additional changes ahead after Pentagon acquisition czar John Young certifies the program to Congress.

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Wow the Army lost the Comanche, now they might lose the upgrade to the Blackhawk? Not good.

They had one at Eustis. Didn't look too different, but the MRB's caught my eye. Also had a glass cockpit.