The government of Saudi Arabia reportedly plans to purchase more than 70 Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., part of a potential $30 billion military purchase if approved by the Pentagon.
Bloomberg news service cited an unidentified senior Saudi official in reporting the preliminary deal, which would also include 85 F-15 fighter jets from Boeing Co. outfitted with engines from East Hartford-based Pratt & Whitney, like Sikorsky a subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp. The Saudis also want another 70 F-15 fighters refurbished.
This week, Sikorsky said Saudi Arabia is purchasing three Black Hawk helicopters, and took options to purchase a dozen more at its discretion. The Black Hawks would likely be manufactured in Poland, where Sikorsky centers production of the international version of the helicopter.
Bloomberg quoted Navy Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa saying that in addition to fighters and helicopters, the purchase would include ships and missile-defense systems.
Stratford-based Sikorsky is the largest employer in Fairfield County with more than 9,000 employees, and UTC is Connecticut”™s largest corporate employer.
Sikorsky revenue jumped to nearly $1.7 billion in the second quarter, up 22 percent from a year ago, while improving profits 27 percent to $169 million.
UTC had a $1.1 billion profit on sales of $13.9 billion in the second quarter, up 5 percent from a year ago. Of the Hartford-based conglomerate”™s six divisions, only UTC Fire & Security matched Sikorsky for year-over-year revenue growth. Otis Elevator Co. had the worst performance as sales dropped 4 percent from a year ago.
At the Farnborough International Airshow in Great Britain this week, Sikorsky announced several other deals, including plans to establish a military aircraft overhaul center in the United Arab Emirates, with UAE and UTC jointly investing $800 million in the project. The center is expected to employ 1,000 people.
Earlier this month, Australia asked for U.S. permission to purchase 24 Seahawk helicopters equipped with engines from Fairfield-based General Electric Co., in a deal valued at $2.2 billion.
