On May 7 Obama’s Department of Defense (DOD) approved “what will likely top $20 billion” for a new presidential helicopter fleet.
The new helicopters will replace the current Marine One fleet.
According to the Daily Mail, the $20 billion total for the new fleet makes them “the most expensive helicopters ever built.” To put the cost into perspective, each helicopter will cost the DOD the same price as “an Air Force One 747 jet.”
Sirkosky Aircraft Corporation won the new contract, as they were also the only company to bid for the job. The DOD said “other aircraft manufacturers” were not “interested.”
The effort to replace the presidential fleet was first pushed early in Obama’s presidency, but was shelved after meeting strong opposition. At that time Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said: “Your helicopter is now going to cost as much as Air Force One. I don’t think there’s any more graphic demonstration of how good ideas have cost taxpayers an enormous amount of money.”
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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