The VH-71 presidential replacement helicopter is going to bring with it classified capabilities, as well as some slightly more visible semi-secrets.

Perhaps highest on the classified list is the helicopter's protection from electronic attack. Program officials admit to it being hardened to electromagnetic pulses (EMP) generated by nuclear explosions. But they clam up when quizzed about the Pentagon's newer threats that include high-powered microwaves (HPM) that can be generated by non-nuclear means, including suitcase-sized devices such as those manufactured by the German firm Deihl.

"Nice try, but we're not going to discuss waveforms," says Capt. Donald Gaddis, the departing program manager and rear admiral candidate. A Defense Science Board report on directed energy weapons, circulated around the Pentagon starting last December, says that kinetic weapons may be replaced by HPM devices for "airborne-defeat of electronic systems."

That can be applied two ways -- airborne HPM devices to disable air-to-air and ground-to-air missiles, ground vehicles, aircraft and helicopters; or ground-based weapons that serve as anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems.

The report also urges the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency to undertake a program to "discover and assess emerging laser and high-power microwave capabilities available to the full range of potential adversaries. HPM could be used to disrupt electro-optical sensors and onboard electronic elements of surveillance and reconnaissance systems. In addition, disruption of computer-based assets, perhaps without knowledge of the cause, is possible."

One of the crucial capabilities of the AgustaWestland-designed VH-71 is the advanced communications system that ensures very important persons such as the president and cabinet members can talk to any government agency or organization at any time. A communications manager can ensure datalink connections (including UHF satcom, ARC-244 FM high-powered radio, Inmarsat commercial satellite and voice-over-Internet-protocol) to any of the 14 passenger positions.

"You can patch anyone into any seat" and offer secure data and voice communications to all the White House agencies, Gaddis says.

Gaddis, a smoke-jumper from the successful F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler program, is responsible for sorting out the presidential helicopter program during the last year by spending the available funding to pay for finishing the four test aircraft and five increment-one production aircraft, which increased to $3.7 billion from $2.3 billion under a recent restructuring. Two of the test VH-71s are here receiving tail rotor upgrades, a third is at Lockheed Martin's upstate New York facility, while the fourth helicopter will arrive at Pax River, on the way to New York, next week. All five of the first production aircraft are to be in the United States by the end of this calendar year.

Still, a major hurdle to getting the program restarted is congressional approval of $1.047 billion requested in the Bush administration's fiscal 2009 defense budget.

Gaddis also oversaw restructuring increment two of the program -- which grew to $7.5 billion from $4.5 billion, of which half is due to schedule changes -- which will provide another 23 much more sophisticated and survivable helos. Four increment one aircraft will be operational by 2010.

The reprogramming will bring the program's cost to a total of $11.2 billion with an initial operational capability in 2017, a slip of one or two years because of earlier funding shortfalls resulting from $500 million in cuts to earlier defense budgets, according to the Navy.

The increment two helicopters will have longer and redesigned rotors, more powerful engines, an upgraded transmission and a 30-year airframe life. The increment two aircraft will carry 14 passengers for 300 nautical miles without refueling.