Navy publishes RFP for its next training helicopter

The Navy today published its request for proposals for its next training helicopter, dubbed TH-XX.

Proposals are due April 2 and a contract award is anticipated in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020.

The service plans to procure 130 helicopters to replace the legacy TH-57 Sea Rangers. In full rate production, the winning company could produce up to 28 aircraft in FY-20, and the government will have options to procure the rest of the program of record through FY-24, according to slides from an industry day held earlier this month.

Several companies last spring began staking out their positions on the trainer replacement competition, including Bell, Leonardo Helicopters and Airbus Helicopters, Inside the Navy reported.