Lockheed Team Wins Presidential Chopper (Sikorsky out after 50 years as “Marine 1” builder)

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 1/28/05

[dead]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a surprise move, the U.S. Navy (news - web sites) has chosen a transatlantic team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. to build a new U.S. presidential helicopter fleet in a deal valued at well over $1 billion, several congressional sources said on Friday.

The decision was a stunning setback for Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft unit -- which for nearly 50 years has built and maintained the green and white "Marine One" helicopters that fly the president.

Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), a New York Democrat, announced the decision in a press release, saying Lockheed's victory would bring hundreds of new jobs to its Owego, New York plant.

Lockheed, the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, is pushing a spin-off of a three-engined EH101 helicopter made by AgustaWestland Inc., an Anglo-Italian unit of Italy's Finmeccanica SpA . Fort Worth, Texas-based Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter is the other big partner.

The contract could also give Lockheed a boost when the Air Force next year orders 194 search and rescue helicopters that could be worth more than $6 billion.

In addition, the winner would have bragging rights that could help sell another 200 helicopters to the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, plus any overseas bounce.

[FoxInSocks]

Well, that sucks. I can't believe it.

[mewzilla]

That'll be a blessing for Owego.

[aShepard]

.....Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), a New York Democrat, announced the decision in a press release..........

Chuckie Schmuckie beat Hillary to the TV camera.
Careful Chuckie, the Hildabeast is going to be real pissed - Think Arkancide!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), a New York Democrat, announced the decision in a press release, saying Lockheed's victory would bring hundreds of new jobs to its Owego, New York plant.

Well, obviously some sort of political "deal" was struck here. I wonder what Schumer has promised to do in return for the "hundreds of new jobs."

[sanchez810]

ohhhh! The owner of Finmeccanica had been lobbying the administration for this prime comercial advertising spot for about 2 years so they could sell more choppers in the USA.

[mewzilla]

Heh heh heh. Chuckie better have his armored unmentionables handy.

[Non-Sequitur]

I imagine that the next Air Force One will be made by Airbus.

[dead]

In a surprise move, the U.S. Navy (news - web sites) has chosen a Trans-Atlantic
team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. to build a new U.S. presidential helicopter fleet,
a congressional source familiar with the decision said on January 28, 2005. The
decision was a stunning setback for Connecticut-based United Technologies
Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft unit -- which for nearly 50 years has built and
maintained the green and white 'Marine One' helicopters that fly the president.
The Lockheed Martin US101 test helicopter is seen in this undated file photo.
(Lockheed Martin/Reuters)

[BluH2o]

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will be pissed ... Sikorsky has their largest plant and headquarters based in Stratford, CT.

[Finalapproach29er]

This was a small payback to Blair,who wanted this very much.

[ChefKeith]

I wonder what Schumer has promised to do in return for the "hundreds of new jobs."

Why more gun control, of course...

PING- a new ride for Ms. Beasly!

[Bonaventure]

I don't know much about the merits of the competing bids, but it is disappointing that the Navy elected to go with an Anglo-Italian design rather than an American one. Of course, as a resident of southwestern Connecticut, I may be unfairly biased in Sikorsky's favor. This is not good news for my region, since the Marine One contract is expected to make Lockheed-Martin a shoo-in for some much larger contracts.

[mewzilla]

Sikorsky also just bought up Schweitzer, another helicopter manufacturer, which is in my neck of the woods, about an hour west of Owego. Wonder if this is going to affect them? If so, Chuckie might want to wait a little while before showing his nose in these parts.

[Al Simmons]

For the sake of future presidents, I truly hope this was purely a merit-based decision. Lockheed is not exactly known for building helos; Sikorski practically invented the darn things.

[Bonaventure]

That is a nice-looking helicopter. But it still bothers me that a local firm lost out to this "trans-Atlantic team."

[dljordan]

"But it still bothers me that a local firm lost out to this "trans-Atlantic team."

As some of the smirking globalist cheerleaders on this site will tell you, "get used to it".

[Sergio]

Anyone have a picture of the Sikorsky helo that was in the running. It looks like the Anglo-Italian helo is large enough to stand up in, if the Sikorsky is not, it could have been one of the deciding factors. That, and the fact that Great Britain and Italy are strong supporters of our actions in Iraq.

Best Regards

Sergio

[msdrby]

I just heard about this. People around here are ecstatic, especially since many were just laid off from Lockheed re: F-16 scaleback.

[hattend]

Well, that sucks. Our president will be flying around in a Euroweenie chopper.

The next AF One will be an Airbus 380 I guess.