STRATFORD, Conn., June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, a
Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT), along with the Government of
the Republic of Turkey and members
of the Turkish aerospace industry have activated contractual
agreements under the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) to
produce the T70 utility helicopter based on Sikorsky's successful
multi-role Black Hawk utility aircraft.
Approved by the U.S. and Turkish governments, the agreements
license TUHP prime contractor Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to
build and deliver 109 T70 helicopters over the next 10 years.
Deliveries of T70 aircraft could begin as early as 2021 to six
Turkish agencies: the Land Forces, Air Force, Gendarme, Special
Forces, National Police, and the Directorate General of
Forestry.
Over a 30-year timeframe, TAI also will deliver an equal number
of baseline S-70i™ BLACK HAWK aircraft for export to Sikorsky.
Sikorsky and TAI are in discussions to establish a joint marketing
team to support Sikorsky's sale of S-70i aircraft to new markets in
the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.
"These finalized agreements mark the beginning of an important
and highly collaborative industrialization partnership with Turkish
industry that will endure for decades," said Dan Schultz, Sikorsky President. "We thank the
Republic of Turkey for choosing a
Sikorsky multi-role helicopter, and we congratulate Turkish
industry for building this manufacturing capability."
During the latter half of 2016, Sikorsky will provide TAI with
the engineering data to establish an assembly line and begin
manufacturing T70 aircraft. To launch the line, Sikorsky will
deliver the first five aircraft in kit form for assembly by TAI
starting in 2018. The first Turkish-built T70 aircraft will be
certified and qualified for delivery to the Turkish Government in
2021.
TAI gradually will increase its manufacturing scope beyond final
assembly and test to include all airframe structures and composite
rotor blades. In addition to TAI's workscope, Alp Aviation, a
Sikorsky joint venture, will precision-machine the dynamic
components and flight controls and assemble landing gear and
transmissions. Aselsan and Sikorsky will co-develop an
enhanced digital cockpit known as the Integrated Modular Avionics
System (IMAS); and Turkish Engine Industries (TEI) will build
engines under license from General Electric (GE).
To facilitate the development and integration of the IMAS,
Sikorsky will transfer to ASELSAN a new S-70i helicopter to be
utilized as the Prototype Turkish Utility Helicopter for the
qualification of the new avionics system in 2019.
TAI will produce T70 aircraft in two configurations – 89
aircraft in common utility configuration and 20 aircraft in a
firefighting configuration for the Directorate General of Forestry.
Delivery of all 109 T70 aircraft is to be concluded by 2026.
The TUHP program is valued at approximately $3.5 billion for 109 T70 aircraft, inclusive of
the work to be performed by Sikorsky, TAI and other suppliers.
Options exist for TAI to produce up to 600 total T70 and S-70i
helicopters.
The T70 aircraft will supplement more than 100 UH-60 BLACK HAWK
aircraft currently operational with the Turkish armed forces.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin