Sea Trials for the Marines' New H-1 Helicopters

Sea Power, Jul 2005

The new versions of the H-1 helicopter being developed for the Marine Corps have completed initial sea trials. The AH-1Z helicopter gunship and the UH-1Y utility version made 267 landings during 30 hours of flight in the shipboard compatibility tests conducted onboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan in May off the Virginia Capes. The two helicopter types are scheduled for operational evaluation later this year.

The Marine Corps will be receiving 90 new UH-1Y utility helicopters from Bell Helicopter Textron instead of UH-1Ns remanufactured into UH-1Ys. The surge in operational tempo because of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the age of the UH-1Ns, and the marginal difference in cost between new and remanufactured helicopters influenced the decision, which was made by Michael Wynne, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, according to the Naval Air Systems Command.

Program officials estimate that approximately $100,000 will be added to the cost of each of 90 new UH-1Ys, plus $8.1 million in non-recurring engineering costs, for a total increase of $17.4 million. Construction of new UH-1Ys will begin in fiscal year 2006, with deliveries scheduled for 2008.

Procurement of a total of 100 UH-1Ys and 180 AH-1Zs is planned.