President Trump signed the $1 trillion omnibus spending bill which included in it a major bump in funding for the Air Force’s UH-1N Huey helicopter replacement program.

Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit is proposing a version of the H-60 Blackhawk

The legislation allocates an additional $75 million toward the program, bumping the final bill adjustment to $93.3 million, according to budget documents. Last year’s request asked for only $18 million.

The spending boost, first reported by Defense News, signals lawmakers’ intent to get the program rolling after much inaction. The replacement program has been in the works for more than a decade.

Congress has not been pleased with the drawn-out process, given one of the helicopter’s primary, stateside missions is to protect U.S. nuclear missile bases.” – DoDBuzz

Boeing Military Aircraft also is pursuing the Huey replacement contract