Contractors Vie to Build Navy Helicopter Trainer.

• Author: Lee, Connie

The Navy has kicked off a highly anticipated competition to replace its legacy TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter trainer, and industry is lining up to bid for the program.

The legacy platform is used by the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Navy has sent multiple requests for information to seek industry input and finalized its requirements for the replacement in a request for proposals issued in January.

Companies that have publicly announced an intention to bid for the program include Bell, Airbus and Leonardo.

The TH-57 trainer is "experiencing obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages, and increasingly expensive operating costs relating to aging aircraft issues," stated the House Armed Services Committee markup for the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Pilot shortfalls due to these issues could impact readiness, the document said.

The Navy requested $261.2 million in the base budget to fund 32 aircraft in fiscal year 2020, according to budget justification documents. Budget projections include acquiring 31 in fiscal year 2021, 31 in 2022 and 15 in 2023.

The notice for the request for proposals stated the service plans to award one firm, fixed-price contract to procure 130 aircraft. Contract award is slated for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Proposals are due in early April.

According to documents, the new @trainer must be able to operate in temperatures ranging from -2 degrees to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The helicopter must be Federal Aviation Administration certified and able to fly at 115 knots true air speed at cruise airspeed and capable of flying at 80 knots when the doors are opened or removed. The aircraft must be instrument flight rules certified, the document stated, meaning it must meet requirements to fly in low-visibility conditions where relying on instruments for navigation is important.

Additionally, the contract includes a ground-based training system, documents stated.

Bell, the manufacturer of the TH-57, is offering its 407GXi, which is an upgrade of the current training helicopter. The TH-57 platform is a derivative of Bell's Jet Ranger 206.

The 407 line has about 4.1 million flight hours and Bell has produced nearly 1,600 of the aircraft, Carl Forsling, the company's business development manager, said in an interview.

Because Bell is the incumbent manufacturer for the program, it will provide for an easier transition from the legacy system, he said.

"Being that...