U.S. Special Operations Command awarded a contract to Boeing worth up to $45 million for 56 upgraded primary airframe structures for the A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopter. SOCOM obligated $5.2 million in FY18 procurement funding at the time of the award. The majority of the work will be conducted in Mesa, Arizona.
U.S. Army Special Operations forces utilize the Little Bird as a light and nimble troop transport and attack helicopter. The MH-6 is an unarmed variant used for carrying troops, while the AH-6 can be outfitted with a variety of guns, rockets, and missiles.
At one point, SOCOM was considering replacing the Little Bird fleet, but has since decided to upgrade the helicopters and keep them in service for the time being. The rotorcraft are not expected to be replaced until the Army’s Future Vertical Lift program takes shape. FVL is a broad development program intended to replace thousands of various utility and attack helicopters across U.S. military fleets in the 2030s.
As editor of International Military Markets, North America, Shaun has cultivated a deep understanding of the vast defense markets in the United States and Canada. Shaun's perspective on defense procurement and budget issues has been cited in a variety of defense periodicals, including Defense News and National Defense Magazine. Further, Shaun played an integral role in the development of Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast product, which offers an unprecedented level of insight into the Pentagon's acquisition budget. In addition to providing original analytical content for the U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, Shaun oversees an internal defense budget forecasting process involving Forecast International's team of skilled systems analysts following release of the DoD's annual budget request. Shaun is also in charge of managing Forecast International's Weapons Inventory database.
