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General Info

Lockheed Martin
VH-71 Kestrel




Artist rendering of the VH-71 Kestrel
Role Executive transport helicopter
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
AgustaWestland
Bell Helicopter (assembly)
First flight 3 July 2007
Status Canceled
Primary user United States Marine Corps
Number built 9 (VH-71A)
Developed from AgustaWestland AW101
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History AgustaWestland (now Leonardo)
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel



The Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel was a variant of the AgustaWestland AW101 (formerly the EH101) that was being manufactured to replace the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. Presidential transport fleet. Originally marketed for various competitions as the US101, it was developed and manufactured in the US by a consortium headed by Lockheed Martin, consisting of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego (LMSI), AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter.

The AgustaWestland AW101, initially designated as EH101, was originally developed and produced by EH Industries, which was a joint venture between the British Westland Helicopters and Italian Agusta companies; Westland merged with Agusta to form AgustaWestland in 2001 AgustaWestland held considerable interest in the export prospects of the AW101, including the prospects for an extensive overseas manufacturing consortium. On 23 July 2002, Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland announced that they had signed a 10-year agreement to jointly market, manufacture and support a medium-lift helicopter, an AW101 derivative, in the United States. At that time, 

Variants

A Merlin HM1 loaded with a Sting Ray torpedo
VH-71A
The initial production VH-71 aircraft or Increment one of the presidential helicopter replacement program, designed to meet an urgent need for new helicopters.[38]
VH-71B
Increment two was to provide 23 operational helicopters with increased range, and upgraded navigation and communications systems that fulfill White House requirements to maintain continuity of government and allow the president to carry out the duties of the office.

Other competitions

The US101 also competed for two further USAF contracts, the 141-aircraft Combat Search and Rescue Replacement (CSAR-X) project (originally won by the Boeing HH-47 on 10 November 2006, but now subject to a second procurement competition), and the 70-aircraft Common Vertical Lift Support Program (CVLSP).

Operators

United States of America

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Aeromacchi Leonardo

AgustaWestland (now Leonardo)
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel

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General Info

      • Crew: 4
      • Capacity: 14 seated troops*
      • Length: 64 ft 1 in (19.53 m)
      • Rotor diameter: 61 ft (18.59 m)
      • Height: 21 ft 8¾ in (6.62 m)
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Special Links Aeromacchi Leonardo

Links to Youtube & Others

In September 2018, the United States Air Force (USAF) announced that the MH-139, an AW139 variant, was the winner of a competition to replace the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1Ns. The service will buy up to 84 MH-139s

AgustaWestland
 AW101 Merlin SAR

The multi-role AW139M, the military version of the AW139, meets the demand of military and government missions.

interior

Youtube Link

The multi-role AW139M, the military version of the AW139, meets the demand of military and government missions.

interior
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