Navy says new presidential helicopter way over budget
Program costs have ballooned over the last three years, increasing by more than 50 percent.
The Navy has notified Capitol Hill that the costs on the troubled VH-71 presidential helicopter program have increased by more than 50 percent over the last three years -- a violation of the Nunn-McCurdy law that triggers a departmental review.
The Pentagon must certify to Congress that the helicopter program is necessary for national security purposes and that no less-expensive, but equally capable, alternatives exist.
Lockheed Martin Corp. won a hard-fought competition for the $6.1 billion program in January 2005. Since then, the effort as been plagued by cost increases, schedule delays and disagreements involving the company, the Navy and the White House Military Office.
"The critical breach [of Nunn-McCurdy] was not reported until now, while the program office explored with the contractor and customer [the White House] numerous alternative program structures and requirements tradeoffs," a Navy spokesman said Thursday.