Sikorsky likely to compete for Indian chopper contract

The Indian government formally made a request for bidders to furnish nearly 40 military helicopters, with Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. expected to compete for the contract that could be worth as much as $2 billion, according to press reports.

Based in Stratford, Sikorsky is the largest employer in Fairfield County with more than 9,000 workers. The manufacturer is a division of United Technologies Corp.

Other potential bidders include the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EADS); Chicago-based Boeing Co.; the AgustaWestland division of Italy-based Finmeccanica SpA; and the Bell Helicopter division of Providence, R.I.-based Textron Inc.

Hartford-based UTC is the eighth-largest aerospace company in the world, according to a new Deloitte study, and UTC generated the highest free cash flow in the industry at $4.9 billion last year.

In addition to Sikorsky, UTC owns East Hartford-based Pratt & Whitney and Windsor Locks-based Hamilton Sundstrand.

EADS had the top aerospace company worldwide last year, followed by Boeing. Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon Co. was one rung ahead of UTC to lead all Northeast companies; the GE Aviation subsidiary of Fairfield-based General Electric Co. ranked 10th, while Textron was 15th.

Bristol, Conn.-based Barnes Group Inc. was ranked 59th on the list, two slots ahead of Stamford-based Hexcel Corp.