Bluezoo
02-01-2005, 10:43 AM
Lockheed Martin gets contract to build Marine One presidential helicopter
Fri Jan 28, 6:51 PM ET Business - AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a 1.7 billion dollar contract to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters, picking its European designed helicopter for the signature dark green-and-white ride of US presidents.
The contract would ultimately be worth 6.1 billion dollars for the 23 helicopters that the government wants to acquire for the presidential fleet, Navy officials said.
"This decision truly reflects the best value and capability for the American taxpayer who is funding it, and the Marines who will operate it and the future presidents who will fly in it," said John Young, the Navy assistant secretary for research, development and acquisitions.
The decision culminated an intense competition between Lockheed Martin's European-designed US-101 helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp's all-American entry, the S-92.
Appeals to patriotism and worries about loss of US jobs to Europe were set against personal lobbying by leaders of Italy and Britain, the United States's most steadfast allies in Iraq (news - web sites).
But Young said both teams met the requirements of "buy American" provisions under US law, and beyond that the degree of US content in the aircraft was not a factor in the decision.
About two thirds of the Lockheed Martin helicopter would be built in the United States, and a third in Britain and Italy, the officials said.
The primary fuselage and the main rotor blade would be built in Britain and gear boxes and other dynamic components in Italy, they said.
Friday's contract commits 1.7 billion dollars to the development and demonstration of the helicopter.
But Young estimated that it will cost a total of 6.1 billion dollars to develop and procure 23 helicopters. Plans call for the delivery of three test helicopters and five initial helicopters by 2009 at a cost of 3.5 billion dollars, including research and development.
The US-101 is an Americanized version of the EH-101 designed by Augusta Westland, a British-Italian aerospace unit of Finmeccanica SpA of Italy, which teamed up with Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters for the Marine One bid.
The S-92 is based on Sikorsky's's US-60 Black Hawk and SeaHawk helicopters, which are already in wide use in the US military.
But both teams had make major changes in design to meet the demanding requirements of a presidential aircraft -- higher speeds, greater range, the most advanced communications and special security requirements.
Young said the three-engine US-101 would have an initial range of 250 miles, compared to 100 miles for the current Marine One, the Sikorsky-built VH3D. It will fly at 145 knots versus 114 knots today, and carry 14 passengers and four crewmembers instead of about 10 passengers today.
The decision was a blow to Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp., which has been making the presidential helicopter since the Eisenhower administration.
"Sikorsky and our All-American supplier team are disappointed with this outcome," said Stephen Finger, the company's president. "We're honored to have flown US presidents for nearly half a century and believe we put forward an exceptionally strong proposal to continue this tradition."
The prestige of making the president's helicopters is a valuable selling point that could give the winner a leg up in an upcoming six billion dollar contract to provide the air force with 132 top-of-the-line search and rescue helicopters.
Senator Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), who represents Sikorsky's home state of Connecticut, denounced the decision as "not just disappointing: it is outrageously wrong."
"It insults Sikorskys workers and management, who earned the right to build the presidents helicopter," he said.
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met earlier in the day with Italian Defense Minsiter Antonio Martino, but it was not known whether they discussed the Marine One contract.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have reportedly plugged the Lockheed proposal with President George W Bush.
But Young said Bush did not weigh in on the decision.
"And I got no other vectors from the White House to do anything other than pick the best value choice for the mission. And that's what we did," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050128/bs_afp/usbushhelicopter_050128235115
River Works will continue to provide power for president's Marine One
By David Liscio
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
LYNN - When President George Bush climbs aboard Marine One, as the official presidential helicopter is known, probably only a few onlookers think about what companies built the aircraft and the powerful engines that propel it.
But the nearly half-century-long tradition of presidential choppers being made by Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft came to an end Friday, when the Pentagon announced it was switching brands to a helicopter with more "survivability" in an age of global terrorism.
The $6.1 billion Navy contract was awarded to Maryland-based Lockheed-Martin Corp., a decision which could ultimately benefit GE workers in Lynn.
After all, the next-generation fleet of presidential helicopters will have three GE jet engines aboard each aircraft rather than two, and a percentage of them will be manufactured at the River Works.
Installing GE engines aboard presidential choppers isn't new - the federal government first picked GE engines for that mission in 1962, only five years after Sikorsky was selected to build the aircraft that would transport one of the world's most-important political leaders.
According to the Navy, the latest contract includes 23 advanced-technology, high-security aircraft, built by Lockheed-Martin and its international partners.
"We're honored that trust has been placed in Lockheed Martin and Team US101 for this vital and highly visible mission," said Robert J. Stevens, president and chief executive of Lockheed.
John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said the U.S. President "needs a more survivable helicopter while the nation engages in the global war on terrorism."The Sikorsky presidential helicopter has two engines compared to Lockheed's three.
Stevens said the company's helicopter team plans to immediately build a secure manufacturing plant in Owego, N.Y., and an assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas.
Lockheed and its European partners waged a major public relations campaign, with the help of political leaders from Britain and Italy. The British government welcomed the decision, saying it would benefit both the United States and Britain. There was no immediate reaction from Italy.
Lockheed's winning entry, the US101, is based on a British-Italian AgustaWestland aircraft, now owned by Finmeccanica. The helicopter has several key components, including its main transmission and rotor blades, which will be built overseas.
Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp., argued that the VH-92 Super Hawk's all-American parts provided greater security than a helicopter partially built abroad. But the Navy went with the longer, wider, more powerful aircraft, with its three engines.
The $6.1 billion contract is split into $2.5 billion for development and $3.6 billion to buy the aircraft. Lockheed will receive an initial installment of $1.6 billion.
Richard Gorham, a spokesman for GE in Lynn, said the defense contract is a prestigious one since it reaffirms the Navy's confidence in the company's aircraft engines.
The new presidential helicopters will be powered by three CT7-8 jet engines, which are derivatives of GE's successful T700 engine. The latter powers the Blackhawk, Apache and Seahawk military attack helicopters.
According to Gorham, GE was the engine of choice for both contract competitors. "We congratulate team US101 on its selection and we welcome the opportunity to serve as the engine manufacturer for the new presidential helicopter fleet," he said. "We look forward to continuing our great relationship with the Lockheed-Martin team as the US101 progresses through final development, certification and entry into service."
Gorham said the CT7-8 engine would likely be flight-tested in 2006 and phased into service a few years thereafter.
"The CT7-8 engine combines proven technology and performance with advanced-design technologies and adaptability that makes it ideally suited for this helicopter application," he said, noting that the T700 family of engines power 27 types of aircraft used by 130 customers in 50 countries.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050128/bs_afp/usbushhelicopter_050128235115
Fri Jan 28, 6:51 PM ET Business - AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a 1.7 billion dollar contract to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters, picking its European designed helicopter for the signature dark green-and-white ride of US presidents.
The contract would ultimately be worth 6.1 billion dollars for the 23 helicopters that the government wants to acquire for the presidential fleet, Navy officials said.
"This decision truly reflects the best value and capability for the American taxpayer who is funding it, and the Marines who will operate it and the future presidents who will fly in it," said John Young, the Navy assistant secretary for research, development and acquisitions.
The decision culminated an intense competition between Lockheed Martin's European-designed US-101 helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp's all-American entry, the S-92.
Appeals to patriotism and worries about loss of US jobs to Europe were set against personal lobbying by leaders of Italy and Britain, the United States's most steadfast allies in Iraq (news - web sites).
But Young said both teams met the requirements of "buy American" provisions under US law, and beyond that the degree of US content in the aircraft was not a factor in the decision.
About two thirds of the Lockheed Martin helicopter would be built in the United States, and a third in Britain and Italy, the officials said.
The primary fuselage and the main rotor blade would be built in Britain and gear boxes and other dynamic components in Italy, they said.
Friday's contract commits 1.7 billion dollars to the development and demonstration of the helicopter.
But Young estimated that it will cost a total of 6.1 billion dollars to develop and procure 23 helicopters. Plans call for the delivery of three test helicopters and five initial helicopters by 2009 at a cost of 3.5 billion dollars, including research and development.
The US-101 is an Americanized version of the EH-101 designed by Augusta Westland, a British-Italian aerospace unit of Finmeccanica SpA of Italy, which teamed up with Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters for the Marine One bid.
The S-92 is based on Sikorsky's's US-60 Black Hawk and SeaHawk helicopters, which are already in wide use in the US military.
But both teams had make major changes in design to meet the demanding requirements of a presidential aircraft -- higher speeds, greater range, the most advanced communications and special security requirements.
Young said the three-engine US-101 would have an initial range of 250 miles, compared to 100 miles for the current Marine One, the Sikorsky-built VH3D. It will fly at 145 knots versus 114 knots today, and carry 14 passengers and four crewmembers instead of about 10 passengers today.
The decision was a blow to Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp., which has been making the presidential helicopter since the Eisenhower administration.
"Sikorsky and our All-American supplier team are disappointed with this outcome," said Stephen Finger, the company's president. "We're honored to have flown US presidents for nearly half a century and believe we put forward an exceptionally strong proposal to continue this tradition."
The prestige of making the president's helicopters is a valuable selling point that could give the winner a leg up in an upcoming six billion dollar contract to provide the air force with 132 top-of-the-line search and rescue helicopters.
Senator Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), who represents Sikorsky's home state of Connecticut, denounced the decision as "not just disappointing: it is outrageously wrong."
"It insults Sikorskys workers and management, who earned the right to build the presidents helicopter," he said.
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met earlier in the day with Italian Defense Minsiter Antonio Martino, but it was not known whether they discussed the Marine One contract.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have reportedly plugged the Lockheed proposal with President George W Bush.
But Young said Bush did not weigh in on the decision.
"And I got no other vectors from the White House to do anything other than pick the best value choice for the mission. And that's what we did," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050128/bs_afp/usbushhelicopter_050128235115
River Works will continue to provide power for president's Marine One
By David Liscio
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
LYNN - When President George Bush climbs aboard Marine One, as the official presidential helicopter is known, probably only a few onlookers think about what companies built the aircraft and the powerful engines that propel it.
But the nearly half-century-long tradition of presidential choppers being made by Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft came to an end Friday, when the Pentagon announced it was switching brands to a helicopter with more "survivability" in an age of global terrorism.
The $6.1 billion Navy contract was awarded to Maryland-based Lockheed-Martin Corp., a decision which could ultimately benefit GE workers in Lynn.
After all, the next-generation fleet of presidential helicopters will have three GE jet engines aboard each aircraft rather than two, and a percentage of them will be manufactured at the River Works.
Installing GE engines aboard presidential choppers isn't new - the federal government first picked GE engines for that mission in 1962, only five years after Sikorsky was selected to build the aircraft that would transport one of the world's most-important political leaders.
According to the Navy, the latest contract includes 23 advanced-technology, high-security aircraft, built by Lockheed-Martin and its international partners.
"We're honored that trust has been placed in Lockheed Martin and Team US101 for this vital and highly visible mission," said Robert J. Stevens, president and chief executive of Lockheed.
John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said the U.S. President "needs a more survivable helicopter while the nation engages in the global war on terrorism."The Sikorsky presidential helicopter has two engines compared to Lockheed's three.
Stevens said the company's helicopter team plans to immediately build a secure manufacturing plant in Owego, N.Y., and an assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas.
Lockheed and its European partners waged a major public relations campaign, with the help of political leaders from Britain and Italy. The British government welcomed the decision, saying it would benefit both the United States and Britain. There was no immediate reaction from Italy.
Lockheed's winning entry, the US101, is based on a British-Italian AgustaWestland aircraft, now owned by Finmeccanica. The helicopter has several key components, including its main transmission and rotor blades, which will be built overseas.
Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp., argued that the VH-92 Super Hawk's all-American parts provided greater security than a helicopter partially built abroad. But the Navy went with the longer, wider, more powerful aircraft, with its three engines.
The $6.1 billion contract is split into $2.5 billion for development and $3.6 billion to buy the aircraft. Lockheed will receive an initial installment of $1.6 billion.
Richard Gorham, a spokesman for GE in Lynn, said the defense contract is a prestigious one since it reaffirms the Navy's confidence in the company's aircraft engines.
The new presidential helicopters will be powered by three CT7-8 jet engines, which are derivatives of GE's successful T700 engine. The latter powers the Blackhawk, Apache and Seahawk military attack helicopters.
According to Gorham, GE was the engine of choice for both contract competitors. "We congratulate team US101 on its selection and we welcome the opportunity to serve as the engine manufacturer for the new presidential helicopter fleet," he said. "We look forward to continuing our great relationship with the Lockheed-Martin team as the US101 progresses through final development, certification and entry into service."
Gorham said the CT7-8 engine would likely be flight-tested in 2006 and phased into service a few years thereafter.
"The CT7-8 engine combines proven technology and performance with advanced-design technologies and adaptability that makes it ideally suited for this helicopter application," he said, noting that the T700 family of engines power 27 types of aircraft used by 130 customers in 50 countries.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050128/bs_afp/usbushhelicopter_050128235115