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Competition over US Marine contract
Washington, Mar 11: Competition for the right to build the US presidential helicopter soared on Wednesday as the two companies vying for the contract showed off their product and their patriotism.
Washington, Mar 11: Competition for the right to build the US presidential helicopter soared on Wednesday as the two companies vying for the contract showed off their product and their patriotism.
Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft was spending the week offering rides in its VH-92 Super Hawk, while Lockheed Martin, working with the British-Italian company AgustaWestland, unveiled its list of US subcontractors to quell concerns that its aircraft is foreign made.
The two companies vying to build the next era of Marine One helicopters submitted their bids to the Pentagon in February, and a decision on the nearly $2 billion contract is expected in May.
Sikorsky has handled the job since its inception in 1957. The current, but aging presidential fleet includes Sikorsky-built Black Hawks and Sea Kings, and Sikorsky hopes to provide the next generation of helicopters - the VH-92 Superhawk - as well. Sikorsky is locked in a fierce battle with AgustaWestland - working with Lockheed Martin - who's highly regarded EH101 helicopter was one of the two Royal Air Force helicopters to serve in Bosnia.
Connecticut lawmakers have been lobbying the Bush administration hard to preserve Sikorsky's contract, insisting the loss of the contract would mean the loss of American jobs.
However the AgustaWestland-Lockheed team insist that 65 per cent of its aircraft - the US101 - would be built in the US.
Sikorsky and AgustaWestland would use engines built by General Electric in its Lynn, Massachusetts plant, and would also use key contractors in Bush's home state of Texas. Bureau Report
The two companies vying to build the next era of Marine One helicopters submitted their bids to the Pentagon in February, and a decision on the nearly $2 billion contract is expected in May.
Sikorsky has handled the job since its inception in 1957. The current, but aging presidential fleet includes Sikorsky-built Black Hawks and Sea Kings, and Sikorsky hopes to provide the next generation of helicopters - the VH-92 Superhawk - as well. Sikorsky is locked in a fierce battle with AgustaWestland - working with Lockheed Martin - who's highly regarded EH101 helicopter was one of the two Royal Air Force helicopters to serve in Bosnia.
Connecticut lawmakers have been lobbying the Bush administration hard to preserve Sikorsky's contract, insisting the loss of the contract would mean the loss of American jobs.
However the AgustaWestland-Lockheed team insist that 65 per cent of its aircraft - the US101 - would be built in the US.
Sikorsky and AgustaWestland would use engines built by General Electric in its Lynn, Massachusetts plant, and would also use key contractors in Bush's home state of Texas. Bureau Report