Sikorsky inks Mideast chopper deals

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. beat out five other manufacturers for a contract to sell 40 helicopters to Saudi Arabia, and is selling 10 more helicopters to the United Arab Emirates.

The deals were announced this week at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates. Deliveries could begin as soon as March.

Stratford-based Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp., and is the largest employer in Fairfield County with some 7,000 workers.

Sikorsky did not immediately specify the value of the Saudi Arabian contract, which could be more than $300 million based on previous contract values for the helicopter models included in the deal.

The Saudi Arabian deal includes 16 of Sikorsky”™s large S-92 models; 15 midsized S-76 helicopters; and nine training helicopters produced by Sikorsky”™s Schweizer Aircraft division in Horseheads, N.Y.  Saudi Arabia plans to use the helicopters for use in security, search-and-rescue, fire fighting and medical evacuation.

The United Arab Emirates is purchasing 10 of Sikorsky”™s Black Hawk helicopters for use by its military.

Separately, Sikorsky has been awarded a $91 million modification to an existing U.S. Army contract for Black Hawk helicopters. The work is to be performed at Sikorsky satellite facilities in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Horseheads.