THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606090074
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 25 lines
The Navy has announced a $404 million advance acquisition contract for the first four production models of the V-22 Osprey aircraft, which takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane.
The contract was awarded to the two contractors responsible for design of the Marine Corps transport: Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth, Texas, and Boeing's helicopter division in Ridley Park, Pa.
The $404 million base contract calls for delivery of four V-22 copies to the Marine Corps in late 1999, with production jointly split between Texas and Pennsylvania, according to a memo sent Friday to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and other interested members of Congress.
The contract also includes a $981 million commitment for production of the second and third lots: delivery of five V-22s in 2000 and seven copies in 2001.
The Pentagon eventually plans to buy 523 V-22s for the Marine Corps, Navy and special operations at a projected total price tag of $53 billion. by CNB