Team US101, Sikorsky Comment On Decision
The US Navy has decided to delay its decision on selecting the
supplier for the new Marine One Presidential transport helicopter.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced has indefinitely postponed its
decision on whether Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft or challenger
Lockheed Martin will clinch the high-profile manufacturing deal.
The Navy, which oversees the program, was scheduled to announce its
decision May 1, just four months after receiving bids for the
contract, which Sikorsky has held exclusively since 1957.
The competition between Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin’s
team, which includes European conglomerate AgustaWestland, has
become politically charged amid election year debate over loss of
American manufacturing to overseas markets. Now, a decision may not
come until after the November election.
To date, the Navy completed flight tests of two AgustaWestland
EH101s and a Sikorsky S-92 early this month, entering the final
phase of the selection process, in which bidders field inquiries
and requests from government evaluators. The Navy solicited bids
for the new presidential helicopter in December.
George David, chairman and chief executive officer of
Sikorsky’s parent company, United Technologies Corp., said
earlier this month that a portion of the roughly 700 Bridgeport
jobs threatened by cancellation of the Army’s Comanche
helicopter program could be saved if Sikorsky retains the Marine
One contract.
Sikorsky spokesman Ed Steadham, said that Tuesday’s news
cast doubt on that possibility.
"We remain confident that the VH-92 Superhawk will ultimately be
selected as the next helicopter to carry the president," Steadham
told the New Haven Register. "However, we are disappointed because
we had anticipated redeploying employees affected by the U.S.
Army’s Comanche cancellation to the (presidential)
program."
U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, (D-CT)., called the schedule
change "outrageous," questioning why the Navy is considering
Lockheed Martin’s proposed US101, roughly a third of which
would be built overseas.
"The idea that the Bush administration might consider
outsourcing both our national security and American jobs is
offensive," Dodd said. "An American president ought to fly in an
American helicopter built by American workers."
Stephen D. Ramsey, Lockheed Martin's US101 vice president and
general manager commented on the Navy's decision.
"Team US101 understands the Government's decision to delay the
award on the Marine One presidential helicopter replacement
program. Over the next several months, we will continue to work
closely with the U.S. Navy customer to ensure that our low-risk
approach will maintain the 2007/2008 delivery schedule required by
the White House. We believe that it is important that the President
have this new safe and secure transportation capability,
particularly in the post-September 11 environment. "
"The US101 is a world proven helicopter that will be produced in
America by Americans. We will be importing technology as well as
jobs into the U.S. economy. The aircraft will be built in Texas by
AgustaWestlandBell and flown to New York where Lockheed Martin will
install and integrate electronic systems. Lockheed Martin projects
creating up to 750 jobs in upstate New York over time. More than
200 companies in 41 states will provide products and services for
the US101 helicopter creating thousands of jobs for Americans."