SCHUMER: FEDERAL SPENDING BILL A WIN FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN OWEGO – INCLUDES $333.5M FOR COMBAT RESCUE HELICOPTER PROGRAM & $94.2M FOR MARINE ONE HELICOPTER, CONTRACTS FOR WHICH LOCKHEED MARTIN CAN COMPETE
Schumer Reveals that FY2104 Appropriations Bill Includes Funding for New Fleet of Air Force’s Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) & Funding for Replacement of Aged ‘Marine One’ Helicopter Fleet
Both Contracts Are Expected To Be Awarded to LM Owego & Could Create/Sustain up to 400 Jobs - Schumer Also Announces Funding of Naval Hawk Helicopters for Which LM Can Compete
LM Owego-Sikorsky Team is in Line to Receive CRH Contract and Produce New Fleet of Presidential Helicopters – Schumer Vows See LM Owego to the Finish Line
Last week at Lockheed Martin Owego, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that, after his continued efforts with top defense officials, the FY2014 Appropriations bill that was signed into law last week includes $333.5 million in funding for the Air Force’s Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) and $94.2 million for the Marine One Presidential Helicopters, which are planned for Lockheed Martin’s team in Owego and will create and maintain approximately 200 jobs or more for each contract. Schumer also revealed that the defense Appropriations bill includes funding for other major contracts that Lockheed Martin can compete for, like the Naval Hawk Helicopter program.
Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have submitted a joint bid to produce the CRH helicopters, and have been in line to receive that contract and produce a new fleet of 112 of these aircraft to fulfill the Air Force’s mission, pending this boost in Appropriations funding. Similarly, LM-Sikorsky has submitted a bid to produce the new fleet of Marine One Presidential Helicopters; now that this funding has been secured in the appropriations bill, the contract is expected to move to LM-Sikorsky. This is due to Sikorsky’s history as the lead producer of Presidential Helicopters and Lockheed Martin’s experience in mission systems integration.
“Lockheed Martin will fly the economy of Tioga County and the entire Southern Tier higher and higher now that the CRH contract funding is secure. Even more promising, there are two new contracts funded by the recent appropriations bill that are right in Lockheed’s wheelhouse, the Marine One Presidential helicopter fleet and Naval Hawk Helicopters, which could bring even more work and jobs to Tioga,” said Schumer. “Today is a both a day of celebration of past achievements and getting these critical helicopter contracts funded, and a day of optimism for the future; it is now my plan to let the Defense Department know that LM-Sikorsky is the right choice for these contracts and ensure these expected contracts come to fruition. The future is bright for Lockheed Martin Owego and the hundreds of employees they support throughout the Southern Tier.”
Schumer was joined by Mr. Dale Bennett, Executive Vice President of Mission Systems and Training, Mr. Dan Spoor, Vice President of Aviation Systems and Owego General Manager and Lockheed employees.
Combat Rescue Helicopter Program:
Last year, Schumer visited LM Owego, called the Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Secretary of Defense Hagel to publicly support the CRH program, explaining that the current fleet of aircraft for the mission was outdated and the military needed new and more capable helicopters. Schumer said that the contract had been subject to an internal restructuring debate, but the $333.5 million in Appropriations funding means that the CRH mission will continue as planned and LM Owego and Sikorsky will receive the work. In the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Defense, only $201 million was provided for the CRH program, whereas the House Committee provided the necessary $333 million. Schumer fought hard amongst top Department of Defense brass, as well as his Senate Appropriations colleagues, to successfully boost the final Appropriations figure to $333.5 million.
Lockheed Martin Owego provides mission systems integration and rescue-unique equipment for the CRH helicopters, creating or maintaining 200 highly-skilled aerospace engineering and program management jobs in the Southern Tier, as well as hundreds of other indirect jobs at local vendors and suppliers. The contract has a 10 year acquisition program and will result in 112 new aircraft in total. Schumer said the CRH procurement was good news for the Air Force as well as Lockheed; the current CRH fleet is seriously degraded and will soon become uneconomical to operate. The LM-Sikorsky CRH Helicopters will be state-of-the-art aircraft designed specifically for search and rescue missions – the best in the business when it comes to protecting our troops.
Presidential Helicopter Program:
Schumer has also pushed to secure a Navy contract to build the new fleet of presidential helicopters, known as ‘Marine One.’ The FY2014 Appropriations bill locks-in funding for this contract at $94.2 million, and is expected to be awarded this spring. Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have submitted a joint bid, and if they are selected, a bulk of the work would be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Owego facility. The contract could add an estimated 200 high-skilled, high-paying jobs to the Lockheed Martin facility in Tioga County. Schumer noted that the current fleet of presidential helicopters is comprised of Sikorsky Black Hawk/Sea King models that are 35 and 40 years old, and they are in serious need of replacing. The Navy contract is for a fleet of 23 new presidential helicopters, 21 for use and 2 for testing. Sikorsky, however, is historically the leading producer of Presidential helicopters and Lockheed Martin brings forth decades of mission systems integration experience. Schumer said this planned contract for LM Owego would bring a great deal of pride to the company and that he will keep his eye on the ball to make sure it goes through and that the contract continues to receive ample funding.
Naval Hawk Helicopter Program:
The Naval Hawk Helicopter program was funded at $1.175 billion and provides another opportunity for Lockheed Martin Owego to compete for a job-creating contract. Lockheed Martin continues to work with Sikorsky to deliver 278 aircraft for a new fleet for the Navy that performs combat support, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as some of the same combat search and rescue missions as the CRH fleet. This contract would sustain approximately 600 high-skilled jobs to New York. Schumer vowed to support the Naval Hawk helicopter program.