OWEGO, N.Y. -- The latest incarnation of the presidential helicopter touched down here Friday. And though it may not resemble the Marine One we know so well, it just needs a little time.

"We're going to integrate a series of mission equipment, communications equipment, paint it, put in the interior and begin the flight test afterwards at our facility in Maryland," said Kevin Westfall, the VH-71's business operations director.

Meet the VH-71, part of a new fleet of nearly 30 presidential helicopters that will be added to the Marine One Squadron over the next decade. Lockheed-Martin won the systems integration contract in 2005 and they're thrilled the first non-test chopper is finally ready.

"It's extremely exciting for the Owego facility. It's a large program. There are many disciplines involved. It's great to actually see it here," added Westfall.

Helicopters in the current fleet are 30 to 40 years old, so the VH-71 represents a much-needed upgrade.

"This helicopter has advanced communications capabilities over the current fleet. The point of that is to allow the president to be in touch at all times. From here, the president can call other aircraft, he can call Air Force One, military installations, so it's pretty advanced from what exists right now," said Monica Hallman, a Lockheed spokesperson.

The helicopters will arrive in two phases: five rapidly produced choppers over the next few years and then 23 more aircraft down the road. But a high-tech flier like this isn't cheap.

"The cost of the program was originally around $1.8 billion and we continued to get changes and the costs have grown as a result," said Westfall.

New estimates put the cost of the whole program around $11.2 billion. But, perhaps, a small price to pay to help out the new commander-in-chief.

While Lockheed performs the complex systems integration, the Anglo-Italian company AugustaWestland is charged with designing and building the bulk of the presidential helicopter.