House panel supports multiyear Apache, Black Hawk contracts

The House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee's mark of the fiscal year 2022 defense bill, released today, would approve requests by the Army to sign multiyear procurement contracts for some of its helicopters.

The Army would be allowed to "enter into one or more multiyear contracts" for AH-64E Apache and UH/HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters beginning in FY-22, according to the subcommittee mark.

In June, the service sent legislative proposals to Congress requesting permission to use multiyear procurement contracts for the helicopters. Over five years, multiyear contracts could save $362 million on Black Hawk procurement and $213 million on Apache procurement compared to single-year contracts, according to the Army.