Feasibility Analysis of a Joint H-60 Program Office

Abstract

The purpose of this feasibility analysis is to assess the feasibility of a joint program office to manage the cross-service Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. The Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky H-60 helicopter is a multipurpose aircraft employed by numerous United States government agencies including many in the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This feasibility analysis will use a quantitative comparative analysis to analyze the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy’s procurements of the H-60 helicopter and assess if there are cost savings that could be realized with a joint program office. Additionally, we conducted a qualitative comparative analysis to determine if there are benefits or disadvantages to joint program offices. Our findings revealed that there are legitimate quantitative advantages for joint programs due to common economic principles of economies of scale and volume discounts. However, there are several qualitative detriments that must be overcome in order to transition the H-60 helicopter program to a joint office. These findings led us to recommend that the H-60 helicopter program remain separate offices managed by each individual service due to the established service life of the H-60. Nevertheless, future major weapons systems could benefit from a joint office if adopted early enough in the program’s life cycle.