J-10
10-04-2005, 12:44 AM
Europe's EADS signs up Sikorsky for US Army helicopter bid
Mon Oct 3, 6:52 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - European defence group EADS said it had tied up with US contractor Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in a bid to win a lucrative Pentagon contract to make advanced light helicopters for the US Army.
<img src=http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20051003/capt.sge.nqb32.031005225159.photo00.photo.default-380x253.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=I8FTqX6C9IFf5iI59Qxe5A-->
UH-145 chopper. European defence group EADS said it had tied up with US contractor Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in a bid to win a lucrative Pentagon contract to make advanced light helicopters for the US Army.(AFP/EADS-HO/File)
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company said WestWind Technologies and cockpit training firm CAE USA had also joined the team in the hope that its UH-145 chopper will win the US Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) contract.
"Bringing Sikorsky onto the UH-145 team ensures that our offering in the LUH competition is backed by the undisputed leader in contractor logistics support for military rotary-wing aircraft," EADS North America chief Ralph Crosby said.
"The addition of WestWind's integration capabilities and CAE's training expertise further strengthen our value proposition for the Army's LUH mission," he said.
"From platform to logistics support to training, our team will provide the US Army with the best solution to meet its light utility helicopter needs."
The Army is planning to acquire more than 300 LUH platforms to replace ageing UH-1 and OH-58 choppers in a contract that EADS says is worth 1.3 to 1.5 billion dollars.
The UH-145 offered by EADS is a military version of its twin-rotor Eurocopter EC-145, which can carry up to nine passengers. The helicopter has been in production since 2002 for use by civilian security forces and emergency services.
Companies have until October 12 to present their bids to the Pentagon. The winner will be announced in April 2006. EADS faces rival bids from Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin/MD and AgustaWestland.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20051003/bs_afp/usmilitaryeurope_051003223530
Mon Oct 3, 6:52 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - European defence group EADS said it had tied up with US contractor Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in a bid to win a lucrative Pentagon contract to make advanced light helicopters for the US Army.
<img src=http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20051003/capt.sge.nqb32.031005225159.photo00.photo.default-380x253.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=I8FTqX6C9IFf5iI59Qxe5A-->
UH-145 chopper. European defence group EADS said it had tied up with US contractor Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in a bid to win a lucrative Pentagon contract to make advanced light helicopters for the US Army.(AFP/EADS-HO/File)
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company said WestWind Technologies and cockpit training firm CAE USA had also joined the team in the hope that its UH-145 chopper will win the US Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) contract.
"Bringing Sikorsky onto the UH-145 team ensures that our offering in the LUH competition is backed by the undisputed leader in contractor logistics support for military rotary-wing aircraft," EADS North America chief Ralph Crosby said.
"The addition of WestWind's integration capabilities and CAE's training expertise further strengthen our value proposition for the Army's LUH mission," he said.
"From platform to logistics support to training, our team will provide the US Army with the best solution to meet its light utility helicopter needs."
The Army is planning to acquire more than 300 LUH platforms to replace ageing UH-1 and OH-58 choppers in a contract that EADS says is worth 1.3 to 1.5 billion dollars.
The UH-145 offered by EADS is a military version of its twin-rotor Eurocopter EC-145, which can carry up to nine passengers. The helicopter has been in production since 2002 for use by civilian security forces and emergency services.
Companies have until October 12 to present their bids to the Pentagon. The winner will be announced in April 2006. EADS faces rival bids from Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin/MD and AgustaWestland.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20051003/bs_afp/usmilitaryeurope_051003223530