Stratford’s Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is teaming with defense giant Lockheed Martin to pursue a joint bid on a contract to build the Navy’s newest replacement for the Marine One presidential helicopter.
Sikorsky, a unit of United Technology Corp. in Hartford, would supply the airframe and engines based on its H-92 medium-lift chopper, while Lockheed would deliver major subsystems.
The Navy has revived its VXX program – formerly V71 — for a replacement presidential chopper after shelving it five years ago amid controversy over escalating costs and programs.
Sikorsky and Lockheed were rivals for the 2005 contract that Lockheed won to deliver 23 new helicopters to replace the Navy’s aging 19-copter presidential fleet, which has been comprised of Sikorsky aircraft since the 1960s.
Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin say they also have signed a tentative pact to explore business opportunities involving other Sikorsky programs.
