VH-71 Kestrel

Manufacturer designation AW101-519

On January 28, 2005 an EH.101 US built variant known as the US101 was selected in the VXX program, to provide the US Marine Corps with a new Presidential Helicopter Replacement. More than 200 suppliers in 41 states support Team US101, led by Lockheed Martin with teammates AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter Textron. Suppliers include some of America s leading aerospace companies, such as General Electric, ITT, Northrop Grumman, Kaman Aerospace and Palomar Products. The first VH-71A Kestrel ready to transport the President was expected to be available in 2009, with the entire fleet of 23 US101 delivered to the Marines HMX-1 squadron by late 2014.

In 2009 the contract was terminated arguing schedule delays, performance issues and above all final cost jumping from $6.5 to $13 billion.

On May 15th 2009 NAVAIR instructed Lockheed Martin Systems Integration to stop work on the VH-71.

On June 1st 2009 the US Navy announced the termination of the VH-71 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program contract for the convenience of the US government. But members of both houses of the US Congress, as well as the Italian government, are raising objections to the cancellation.

In June 2011, nine VH-71s were purchased for $164 million by Canada for use as spare parts for its fleet of AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters.