Sikorsky Starts Layoffs | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-09.29.25

AirborneNextGen-
09.30.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.01.25

Airborne-Affordable Flyers-10.02.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.03.25

Fri, Mar 24, 2023

Sikorsky Starts Layoffs

Amid Contract Dispute Over Next-Gen Helo, Manufacturer Tightens the Belt

Sikorsky has begun layoffs of non-union employees at its New Haven, Connecticut facility after apparently losing out on a major government contract to rival Textron subsidiary Bell Helicopter.

The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Program is currently on track to develop the Bell V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor aircraft chosen over Sikorsky's more traditional pusher prop/ dual rotor equipped Defiant X helicopter. While the company, in typical defense industry fashion, has protested the decision, they may not like their chances. In a similar move, Sikorsky's parent company Lockheed Martin announced the elimination of 800 jobs in its rotary and mission systems divisions.

A Lockheed spokesperson said that the decision was the result of decreased production plans, stating “We intend to retain as many as possible who can fill our open business-critical positions in our Rotary and Mission Systems business segment and across Lockheed Martin and will continue to hire for roles that are required to support our customers’ urgent national security missions." 

The loss of the Defiant X may have been a let down for the manufacturer, but other irons in the fire mean there's more business remaining on the table. An Army contract for a new scout helicopter is still up for grabs, with the competition waiting on a GE Aviation engine to begin fly-offs with rival Bell. Current contract work includes the Black Hawk, the King Stallion, and the Jolly Green II.

Jay Malave, CFO, applied some verbal salve during an investment conference with JPMorgan Chase, saying "When you look at where we are with CH-53K, between now and 2027 the revenues will double, so that'll be a big driver." Still, there's a vague sense of disappointment regarding the loss to Bell, given the somewhat long odds of an upset on the contract decision.

"The upside from there," added Malave, "would be if we are successful with FLRAA."

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 10.03.25: Phantom 3500 Buy, ‘Chinese Military Company’, NOTAM Redesign

Also: Lufthansa Chops 4000, FlyNow eCopter, Pilatus PC-12 PRO, USMC Buys 99 CH-53Ks Otto Aerospace announced that Flexjet will be its first fleet customer and its launch customer f>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.05.25): Terrain/Obstruction Alert

Terrain/Obstruction Alert A safety alert issued by ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware the aircraft is at an altitude which, in the controller's judgment, places th>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 10.02.25: MOSAIC Start Date, AFE25 Tickets, ePulitzer

Also: Bristell Receives Part 23, Sonex Highwing Webinar, AV-30-C Update, MOSAIC Consultancy The GA community is eagerly anticipating the date that marks the beginning of a new era >[...]

NTSB Final Report: Zodiac CH 650B

The Airplane Ballooned About 10 Ft Above The Runway When It Encountered A Wind Gust Analysis: The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airplane at the time of the acci>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: RDD Enterprises' LX-7 - Taking The Lancair to a Whole New Level

From 2019 (YouTube Edition): Company Updates Its Program For Highly Modifying Lancair IV-P Airframes RDD Enterprises, a company that was created to modify Lancair IV-P airplanes in>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC