Sikorsky Aircraft,
HUNTSVILLE: The U.S. Government and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today signed a five-year, multi-service contract for 537 H-60 HAWK(TM) helicopters to be delivered to the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Sikorsky is a United Technologies Corp. company.
The “Multi-Year VII” contract is a multi-service, multi-year contract with the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy for UH-60M BLACK HAWK, HH-60M MEDEVAC, MH-60S SEAHAWK(TM) and MH-60R SEAHAWK® aircraft. It is the seventh contract for Sikorsky and the U.S. Government. The contract value for expected deliveries is approximately $7.4 billion and includes options for an additional 263 aircraft, spares, and kits, with the total contract value potentially reaching $11.6 billion. Actual production quantities will be determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and Pentagon acquisition priorities.
The deliveries are scheduled to be made from 2007 to 2012.
“The UH-60M and HH-60M helicopters will give the U.S. Army survivable, supportable BLACK HAWK helicopters with the latest rotor, propulsion, and cockpit technologies to enhance performance. Our MH-60S SEAHAWK and MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters give the U.S. Navy available, supportable platforms that are ready for new mission systems,” said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino. “This combination of proven, battle-worthy helicopters will provide our military with safe, rugged, responsive aircraft that will be one of their greatest tools to do the important work that they do.”
Under the terms of the contract, Sikorsky will provide technical publications and updates. In addition, Sikorsky field service representatives will provide technical guidance and on-site training to Army and Navy maintenance personnel.
With a new airframe, avionics and propulsion system, the UH-60M helicopter is the latest and most modern in a series of BLACK HAWK variants that Sikorsky has been delivering to the Army since 1978. The UH-60M helicopter provides additional payload and range, advanced digital avionics, better handling qualities and situational awareness, active vibration control, improved survivability, and improved producibility.
The MH-60R helicopter was designed to support the U.S. Navy's helicopter master plan and meet mission requirements for maritime dominance. The MH-60S helicopter complements the mission capabilities of the MH-60R helicopter by performing troop transport, airborne mine countermeasures, armed helicopter and naval special warfare support missions. The MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters share the common multi-function digital glass cockpit. The airframe and cockpit commonality between the two aircraft provide exceptional flexibility of support, maintenance and training, yielding significant savings.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing, and service. The company's mission statement reflects its long commitment to safety and innovation: “We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere … every time(TM).” United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
