Team US101, Sikorsky Comment On Decision

The US Navy has decided to delay its decision on selecting the supplier for the new Marine One Presidential transport helicopter. On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced has indefinitely postponed its decision on whether Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft or challenger Lockheed Martin will clinch the high-profile manufacturing deal. The Navy, which oversees the program, was scheduled to announce its decision May 1, just four months after receiving bids for the contract, which Sikorsky has held exclusively since 1957.

The competition between Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin’s team, which includes European conglomerate AgustaWestland, has become politically charged amid election year debate over loss of American manufacturing to overseas markets. Now, a decision may not come until after the November election.

To date, the Navy completed flight tests of two AgustaWestland EH101s and a Sikorsky S-92 early this month, entering the final phase of the selection process, in which bidders field inquiries and requests from government evaluators. The Navy solicited bids for the new presidential helicopter in December.

George David, chairman and chief executive officer of Sikorsky’s parent company, United Technologies Corp., said earlier this month that a portion of the roughly 700 Bridgeport jobs threatened by cancellation of the Army’s Comanche helicopter program could be saved if Sikorsky retains the Marine One contract.

Sikorsky spokesman Ed Steadham, said that Tuesday’s news cast doubt on that possibility.

"We remain confident that the VH-92 Superhawk will ultimately be selected as the next helicopter to carry the president," Steadham told the New Haven Register. "However, we are disappointed because we had anticipated redeploying employees affected by the U.S. Army’s Comanche cancellation to the (presidential) program."

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, (D-CT)., called the schedule change "outrageous," questioning why the Navy is considering Lockheed Martin’s proposed US101, roughly a third of which would be built overseas.

"The idea that the Bush administration might consider outsourcing both our national security and American jobs is offensive," Dodd said. "An American president ought to fly in an American helicopter built by American workers."

Stephen D. Ramsey, Lockheed Martin's US101 vice president and general manager commented on the Navy's decision.

"Team US101 understands the Government's decision to delay the award on the Marine One presidential helicopter replacement program. Over the next several months, we will continue to work closely with the U.S. Navy customer to ensure that our low-risk approach will maintain the 2007/2008 delivery schedule required by the White House. We believe that it is important that the President have this new safe and secure transportation capability, particularly in the post-September 11 environment. "

"The US101 is a world proven helicopter that will be produced in America by Americans. We will be importing technology as well as jobs into the U.S. economy. The aircraft will be built in Texas by AgustaWestlandBell and flown to New York where Lockheed Martin will install and integrate electronic systems. Lockheed Martin projects creating up to 750 jobs in upstate New York over time. More than 200 companies in 41 states will provide products and services for the US101 helicopter creating thousands of jobs for Americans."

FMI: www.TeamUS101.com, www.sikorsky.com