EADS "Welcomes" Boeing's "Embrace" Of International Military
Technology
Boeing said Monday it plans to dive into the competition to
build a new Presidential helicopter, and that it plans to do so by
securing a license from AgustaWestland for U.S. production of the
AW101 medium-lift helicopter. The aircraft will be the platform for
Boeing's entry into the U.S. Navy VXX Presidential Helicopter
program.
This license will give Boeing full intellectual property, data
and production rights for the aircraft in support of the VXX
program. Because of this arrangement, the aircraft will be a Boeing
aircraft, built by Boeing personnel at one of its U.S. facilities.
The company will submit information regarding this aircraft in
response to the Navy's current Request for Information by the June
18 deadline.
In announcing the agreement, Phil Dunford, vice president and
general manager for Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, said, "As a leading
original equipment manufacturer in the military helicopter market
and with our nearly 50 years of experience in presidential
transport, we believe we are uniquely positioned to make the most
of the Navy's significant investment in this aircraft."
The AW101 is a three-engine, medium-lift helicopter with
combat-proven performance, serving with distinction in Bosnia, Iraq
and Afghanistan. More than 150 aircraft are in service with five
NATO militaries and Japan, and the aircraft was selected for the
previous presidential helicopter program in which nine aircraft
were delivered to the prime contractor by AgustaWestland.
Italian Navy AW101 File Photo
If the Boeing 101 helicopter is selected for VXX, Boeing will be
the prime contractor and will design, build and deliver the
aircraft. A team of subcontractors, including AgustaWestland, would
work with Boeing to deliver this capability to the Navy.
"Boeing has a long and extremely successful relationship with
AgustaWestland, which has manufactured both the AH-64 Apache in the
United Kingdom and the CH-47 in Italy under license from Boeing. We
are thrilled to have a trusted participant on our team with
valuable insights into the aircraft and the program," said Dave
Palm, director of Business Development and Strategy for Boeing
Rotorcraft Systems.
In a statement, Airbus parent EADS said it welcomed Boeing's
"embrace of international military technologies and platforms in
its pursuit of the VXX Presidential Helicopter contract."
"We're pleased that Boeing has openly acknowledged the
contribution that international teams, products and platforms make
to U.S. national security," EADS said in a statement shortly after
the announcement. "For several years, Boeing and its allies have
been harshly critical of the participation of EADS North America in
the KC-X tanker competition. With this announcement, we now expect
Boeing to cease its shrill rhetoric and finally allow the KC-X
competition to focus on the merits of the tanker offerings."
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