[Llarry]

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) in Taiwan has asked to purchase six Northrop Grumman E-2D airborne warning and control radar planes from the USA. The ROCAF currently operates five older E-2K models of the Hawkeye that were originally purchased 30 years ago as E-2Ts, then upgraded to E-2K over the years. One aircraft was lost to an accident.

The story of the Taiwan's purchase of the E-2 is an interesting one: The US had long ago agreed with China to not provide any new systems to Taiwan and so the E-2Ts sold to the ROCAF were purported to be used U.S. Navy aircraft. They were in fact factory new and I'm sure the Chinese were perfectly aware of that.

If the sale is approved, Taiwan will have to get in line to take delivery of new E-2Ds: Japan and the French Navy are awaiting delivery of E-2Ds that are scheduled to be delivered in 2027-2028.

The photo is of a currently active ROCAF E-2K.

[asianF22]

Haven’t seen one of these in awhile…Skywagon 180

[Llarry]

In 1961, the U.S. president's air travel over short distances entered the jet age when the Army and Marine units responsible for presidential transport by helicopter transitioned to the turbine powered VH-3A Sea King (old designation HSS-2Z). Eight Sikorsky VH-3As, divided equally between the Army and the Marine Corps, were assigned for the purpose.

Fifteen years later, in 1976, those early VH-3As were replaced with 11 improved VH-3D models. Referred to as "Marine One" when the president was onboard, the VH-3Ds has served in the presidential transport role for almost 50 years. The H-3s started life as ship-based antisubmarine helicopters, but these VH-3Ds were a far cry from their SH-3D ASW brethren, with increasingly sophisticated secure communications and countermeasures equipment. When the Navy's SH-3Ds were retired, the VH-3Ds were assured of an abundance of spare parts and continue to fly the VIP mission.

In 1976 Army participation ended and the mission became exclusively a Marine Corps task. The Marines had earlier formed a special squadron, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) for the task.

In 1987, the VH-3Ds were joined by a little brother, the Sikorsky VH-60N. The VH-60Ns rarely flew the president but were used for support tasks. Other helicopters (UH-46s and large CH-53s) were also assigned to HMX-1 and used for support tasks as well.

As a security measure, the VH-3Ds frequently flew in groups of two or more to complicate targeting should someone desire to shoot down the president's aircraft.

Long after retirement of the SH-3, the White House and the Marines recognized that they needed to plan a successor to the VH-3D. They held a competition for a new presidential transport helicopter which was won by the AugustaWestland AW101 in 2005. The new aircraft was designated VH-71A.

The VH-71A had a troubled gestation. There was a strong tendency to gold-plate everything about the helicopter, increasing cost and adding weight. In 2009, after the expenditure of 4.4 billion taxpayer dollars in development and production costs, only nine VH-71As had been manufactured and were still not ready to assume the mission. The project was cancelled, and the nine VH-71As were sold to Canada for spare parts for pennies on the dollar, where the AW101 was in service as a very capable CH-149 search and rescue helicopter. (Editorial note: The VH-71A would have been a superior performer in the mission had it not suffered the cost overruns.)

The VH-3D soldiered on as the process began all over again. A second competition resulted in selection of the Sikorsky S-92 (an enlarged derivative of the H-60). This time more rigorous cost control was part of the process, but the result is still the most expensive helicopter ever at over $200 million per helicopter in 2015 dollars!

The S-92 presidential helicopter was designated as the VH-92A Patriot and the program was for 23 aircraft, all to be operated by HMX-1 and to replace both the long-serving VH-3D and the VH-60N. But the VH-92A suffered problems with its sophisticated communications and other systems and did not actually fly the president until 2024. It now appears that it will be operational and usable.

Meanwhile, HMX-1 also received a dozen MH-22B Osprey tiltrotors to support the presidential mission, and it turns out that the VH-60N has superior performance to the heavy VH-92A under hot/high altitude conditions, so at least some VH-60Ns will be retained by the squadron.

Presumably the long-serving VH-3Ds will now be finally retired.

[Llarry]

A post-script on the Marines and presidential air transport. In 1957 President Eisenhower was in New England when he was required to return in haste to Washington. A Marine Corps HUS-1Z (new VH-34D) was available and saved him a couple of hours of travel time. That was the first time the Marines transported a U.S. president.