DALLAS, JAN. 27, 2005 – Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced today that it recently received a contract with a potential value of $1.3 billion to manufacture the cabin structure for Sikorsky’s UH-60L, M, S and S-70A variants of BLACK HAWK helicopters. The contract potentially covers 1,100 shipsets of structure delivered over the next 15 years.
Planning and manufacturing under this contract have already begun at Vought’s facility here. The company has hired about 30 employees to support the work and may add up to 100 more as the program matures. The first phase of Vought’s contract with Sikorsky includes 350 shipsets through 2009.
“The military helicopter market represents an expanded business base for Vought,” said Vought President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Risley. “Being a member of Sikorsky’s respected BLACK HAWK program positions us well on our strategic path of increasing Vought’s military business.”
“Our agreement with Vought, a recognized leader in the structures area, allows us to execute our manufacturing strategy, and provide an affordable solution to our customers,” said David Galuska, vice president of operations for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. “With this sourcing decision, we will free up floor space and skilled resources that can be redeployed to our aircraft assembly operation without reducing employment in our Connecticut operations.”
The ruggedness and survivability of the BLACK HAWK, combined with its multi-mission flexibility, have made it the world’s standard for medium-lift utility helicopters. Sikorsky has delivered more than 2,600 HAWK family helicopters since 1978, and the aircraft has logged more than 5 million flying hours.
Sikorsky’s UH-60M BLACK HAWK is designed to replace the UH-60L as the standard configuration for all new U.S. Army BLACK HAWK production. The U.S. Army’s aviation modernization plan calls for improvements that will position the BLACK HAWK as the service’s primary utility helicopter for decades to come. The MH-60S KNIGHTHAWK, the U.S. Navy’s newest multi-mission helicopter, is an amalgam of the UH-60L BLACK HAWK and its Navy variant, the SH-60B SEAHAWK. The S-70A is an international BLACK HAWK.
More than 2,000 H-60 BLACK HAWK and H-60 variants are flown by all five U.S. military services. More than 600 international S-70 variants, including SEAHAWK naval derivatives, are serving 25 international customers.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing and service. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), of Hartford, Conn., which provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. About Vought
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. ( www.voughtaircraft.com ) is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales of approximately $1.2 billion and more than 6,000 employees in seven U.S. locations.
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