
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 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 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.

VH-71 Kestrel News |

Team Cormorant for CH-149 Mid-Life Upgrade
27-Jun-17 - Lonardo and IMP announce addition of CAE, GE and Rockwell Collins as industrial partners of Team Cormorant to support the modernization of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s EH101/CH-149 Cormorant fleet
Cormorant Fleet to be Expanded with VH-71
29-May-17 - Leonardo and IMP to support RCAF CH-149 Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) including the expansion of the fleet through the conversion of AW101-519 helicopters (ex U.S. Marine One VH-71)
Sikorsky S-92 wins Marine One contract
07-May-14 - Stratford, Connecticut - The U.S. Navy today announced that Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has been selected to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters for the Office of the President.
Northrop-Grumman & AgustaWestland AW101
18-Sep-12 - Northrop Grumman Corporation and AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company announced today that they have signed a comprehensive teaming agreement to respond to anticipated requests for both the new Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter and the Navy’s recently announced program to develop a new “Marine One” Presidential Helicopter.US Presidential VXX program acquisition delayed further
27-Feb-12 - Presidential Helicopter Acquisition: Effort Delayed as DOD Adopts New Approach to Balance Requirements, Costs, and Schedule01-Jun-09 | VH-71 Terminated |
15-May-09 | VH-71 Stop Work Order Issued |
10-Jan-08 | VH-71 Begins U.S. Flight Testing |
05-Jul-07 | VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Test Aircraft completes maiden flight |
17-Nov-05 | First presidential test helo arrives at Pax River |
13-Jul-05 | Presidential helo is now VH-71A |
28-Jan-05 | US101 Selected BY US Navy for Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program |
List of Operators of VH-71 Kestrel |
Years | Model | Org | |
---|---|---|---|
2000- | EH101 | ![]() |
Global Distribution of VH-71 Kestrel |
|
Construction Numbers |
C/N | Year | History | |
---|---|---|---|
PP-1 | 2008 | ![]() | |
PP-2 | 2008 | ![]() | |
PP-3 | 2008 | ![]() | |
PP-4 | 2009 | ![]() | |
PP-5 | 2009 | ![]() | |
TV-2 | 2007 | ![]() | |
TV-3 | 2008 | ![]() | |
TV-4 | 2008 | ![]() | |
TV-5 | 2007 | ![]() |