President's Helo Now Costs More Than Air Force One

You know something's wrong when the President's helicopter starts costing more than the President's jet. The Washington Post focuses on the rapidly increasing costs of replacing Marine One's aging helicopters. Cost estimates have jumped from $6 billion to more than $11 billion for the 28-ship fleet. That makes each helicopter more expensive than Air Force One.

*"You don't think of it in terms of what's the cost of the individual helicopter," said Jacques S. Gansler, a former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, who has been asked to review the project for the Defense Science Board. "You think of it as, what do we need to do to protect the president?" *

*As a result, a vehicle that was supposed to be a modified version of an existing helicopter "grows into an entirely different thing," he said. *

*The specifications of the new craft remain largely secret, but some details have leaked into trade publications or have been disclosed in congressional briefings. The 64-foot-long helicopters must carry 14 passengers and thousands of pounds of additional equipment while being able to fly farther without refueling than existing Marine One choppers can. They must be able to jam seeking devices, fend off incoming missiles and resist some of the electromagnetic effects of a nuclear blast. *

They also must have videoconferencing and encrypted communications gear to allow the president to instantly reach advisers, military officers and foreign leaders. Although the president typically spends only short periods of time aboard the White House helicopters, at times the president can be onboard for longer distances. In a crisis, the White House says, minutes can make a difference, so a president should have the full capacity to act no matter where he or she is. In theory, a commander in chief should even be able to order a nuclear strike from the helicopter.

This is insanity. This contract was awarded with the concept of starting with an off-the-shelf military helicopter and modifying it to specific standards so that the President could make the occassional hop from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base. Now of course, the Marine squadron has other VIPs to ferry about and other missions, but it is the requirement to transport and protect the president that drives these costs. It's time for a do-over. Fire the acquisition manager, relook at the requirements, and consider an option that isn't necessarily designed to withstand a nuclear blast.