SCI/TECH: Trans-Atlantic Lockheed Team Wins Presidential Choper Competition, page 1

posted on Jan, 28 2005 @ 05:31 PM

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The trans-Atlantic team chaired by Lockheed Martin has won the competition to supply the next presidential copter. The Lockheed consortium beat out Sikorsky, who for the past 50 years has supplied and maintained VH-1. Influential Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat has vowed to question the deal. Sikorsky is based in his home state.

news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy has chosen a trans-Atlantic team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. to build a new U.S. presidential helicopter fleet in a deal valued at $1.7 billion.

The surprise decision was a stunning setback for United Technologies Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft unit, which for nearly 50 years has built and maintained the green and white "Marine One" helicopters that fly the president.

Assistant Navy Secretary John Young said the decision came after an "exhaustive and deliberative" search and would ensure a high level of quality and safety for future presidents.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Just shows that while U.S. defense markets are open to outside competition, Fortress Europe would have hardly allowed a Sikorsky to ferry around thier leadership. The United States has all but ceded the civilian rotary aircraft market to Europe. Do not get me wrong, EuroCopter makes excellent products: The BK-117 that we use for medical transport is an excellent ship (copter types use naval terms, go figure) and the US101 which won the competition today is also an excellent craft. However, this level of competition simply not allowed to happen in the EU zone. From outright subsidies to unfair and unethical bidding processes (Ask Pratt and Whitney Canada about the A400), the U.S. needs to evaluate future EADS et al. contracts with U.S. interests more in mind.

[edit on 1/28/05 by FredT]

benedict arnold

posted on Jan, 28 2005 @ 10:18 PM

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american choppers, by americans, for americans

FredT

posted on Jan, 31 2005 @ 12:52 AM

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Originally posted by benedict arnold
american choppers, by americans, for americans

Uh AugutaWestland is a British based Italian owned company. Lockheed in thier US face.

Chopper firm flies high on deal

The news that Somerset-based AgustaWestland is involved in a multi-billion dollar contract to provide helicopters for the US President comes at a key time for the company.
Having just been sold to the Italians, Agusta was waiting on a major new government order for Lynx helicopters to help secure its future in Yeovil.

Now, it is part of a consortium led by Lockheed Martin and including Bell, to provide 23 new "Oval Offices in the sky" for George W Bush.

Alan Johnston, managing director of AgustaWestland, told the BBC: "There were champagne corks popping. This is a great piece of news.
Marine One