Sikorsky Aircraft, PARIS AIR SHOW: The Royal Thai Navy will become the first international customer to take advantage of the advanced technology of the MH-60S helicopter, after signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the U.S.
Government to purchase two Sikorsky MH-60S aircraft for an estimated program value of $58 million inclusive of spares, support and training. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.
The agreement, signed by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Thai Navy, specifies delivery of the aircraft in 2009.
“The U.S. Navy has decided to operate only two helicopters – both from Sikorsky Aircraft – the MH-60R and the MH-60S,” said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino. “International customers are beginning to recognize and embrace that message of standardized fleets. Sikorsky is pleased to see the Royal Thai Navy validate that message with this purchase agreement. The MH-60S will deliver new mission equipment and standard technology that will serve the Royal Thai Navy well.”
Sikorsky Aircraft has developed four generations of maritime helicopters that support the operations of navies across the globe. Naval Hawk helicopters and their derivatives serve the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard as well as navies around the world in an array of seaborne operations such as anti-marine warfare, missile targeting, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, search- and-rescue, and medical evacuation.
Since joining the fleet in 2002, the U.S. Navy's MH-60S helicopter has become the service's multi-purpose workhorse, accumulating more than 120,000 flight hours performing vertical replenishment, amphibious and carrier search- and-rescue, medevac, noncombatant evacuation and remote site logistics missions in theaters worldwide.
The new generation Naval Hawk helicopter, the MH-60R, entered the U.S. Navy fleet in 2006.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
