New York Times' Gail Collins Adds to the Chorus of Voices Supporting The New Marine One Fleet as Cost Effective, Needed for President's Safety

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 15, 2009) - In a Gail Collins column in the New York Times on Wednesday, the columnist stated that President Barack Obama's current helicopter fleet is neither an adequate nor a cost effective way for the commander in chief to travel. The VH-71 Kestrel is being developed to replace the current Marine One Presidential transport fleet, produced by the Lockheed Martin-led "US101 Team" of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter.

The VH-71 program is divided into two increments. Increment One provides five helicopters on an accelerated schedule with improved capabilities over the current fleet. Increment Two provides a fleet of 23 helicopters that completes the White House requirements for a command and control platform. "The new choppers were supposed to be less vulnerable to attack, carry more people and have efficient communications with the outside world," reported Gail Collins of The Times. "All of which seemed supremely reasonable."

Citing the fleet's age, commissioned in 1975, and the immense operating and maintenance costs required to keep the fleet airborne, The Times called on Mr. Obama to accept the new fleet of Marine Ones already under construction and make an investment in both his security and the long-term costs of maintaining the helicopters.

On April 28, AgustaWestland finished delivery of Increment 1, with the last of nine VH-71s now bound for completion with integrator Lockheed Martin. The Times reported that if the Department of Defense terminates its current contract with Lockheed Martin, "We don't wind up actually saving money. We lose our original investment and spend vast new sums on something that's theoretically going to be better."

American taxpayers have already spent $3.2 billion of a $6.8 billion contract. AgustaWestland has said it can deliver 19 more Increment 1 helicopters for another $3.5 billion, which would roughly equal the original VH-71 program budget. "At this point," the Times reports, "we're in for nearly $4 billion if the contract is shelved, and we already have five helicopters complete and undergoing testing."

Congressman Maurice Hinchey of New York, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, thinks the administration should finish building the first-stage model helicopters. Both he and the manufacturers have confirmed this would bring the entire project in at the original budget.

According to the Times, the President should "take the tougher political route, and the bigger, safer helicopters that are already online."

To read the entire article, visit www.nytimes.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Elissa Dodge Qorvis Communications (202) 683-3152