Sikorsky Aircraft has signed nearly $4 billion deal with the United States government to build Black Hawk helicopters.
It is a big score for a company whose future in Connecticut was teetering not so long ago.
In the months since the state reached the deal to keep the Lockheed Martin company, headquartered in Connecticut, this is the second major order by the U.S. military of helicopters that will be made in Stratford.
For managing supervisor, Brad Batchelor, the new order of the 257 new H-60 Black Hawk Helicopters means "a lot of job stability." He has worked for Sikorsky Aircraft for nearly 35 years.
"I’m proud to say that," Batchelor said.
Sikorsky announced the 5-year contract to build the Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army and Foreign Military Sales is worth $3.8 billion.
"The Black Hawk is the universal utility helicopter," Batchelor said. "It’s the work horse of the military– all branches."
Back in April, Sikorsky announced plans to produce 200 King Stallion Helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corp.
It has been almost a year since state lawmakers approved a deal with $220 million in incentive to keep Sikorsky in Connecticut through 2032.
"It’s tremendous," said Ellie Taylor, who has lived in Stratford for 15 years. "I don’t know what we’re going do when they do leave."
This is the ninth time the U.S. government has made a multi-year order for the Black Hawk helicopter. Sikorsky has delivered the Black Hawks to the Army since 1978.
"This contract will provide our Army, sister services and allies with state-of-the-art modernized helicopters to complete crucial missions and save lives," said Colonel Billy Jackson, Sikorsky Utility Helicopters Project Manager. "Moreover, this effort will stabilize our manufacturing base and control long-term costs, and ultimately provide significant savings to the taxpayer."
The deal includes options for an additional 103 aircraft that could raise the value of the contract to more than $5 billion.
"It’s great for the surrounding neighborhood and Connecticut in general," Batchelor said.
