In a surprise twist, the United States government reportedly has considered revving Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. back up as the supplier for a fleet of helicopters used by the White House.
With the Sikorsky name long associated with the Marine Corps One presidential helicopter, in late 2005 Lockheed Martin Corp. and partner AgustaWestland knocked Sikorsky off the White House lawn with $6 billion contract to provide a new fleet of helicopters for use by the president.
The program hit early delays, however, in part due to additional requirements for weight that may require changes to the tail and rotors of the US101 model being developed by Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland.
The Pentagon recently concluded it will need to pay at least $1 billion more than it expected for the VH-71 program, Reuters reported in mid-January citing two unidentified sources. In December, the government reportedly stopped work on the second phase of the program following a $500 million cut in funding for this year by Congress.
Meanwhile, both Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin submitted revised bids Jan. 7 for a $15 billion contract to provide the U.S. Air Force with more than 140 search-and-rescue helicopters. The companies protested the original contract award to Boeing Co., saying Boeing”™s bid did not take into consideration ongoing maintenance costs the Air Force originally specified must be included in final bids.
A change in either contract to benefit Sikorsky could have a significant impact on the company and by extension the Fairfield County area economy. With its headquarters in Stratford, Sikorsky has reported having between 7,500 and 8,300 regional employees, making it the largest employer in Fairfield County.
After production problems in 2006 and 2007 due to the effects of a labor strike and operational changes, Sikorsky has more than recovered with a $7 billion contract for new military helicopters and significant business oversees from energy companies needing transport helicopters. Bristow Group Inc., which provides such services in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, said it would exercise an option to purchase five Sikorsky helicopters.
