Connecticut-based manufacturer says it is on track with expansion plans and aims to cultivate its commercial arm
Sikorsky is brushing off its loss of the VXX US presidential helicopter competition, and says it remains on track to be the highest-revenue vertical-lift company by the end of the decade. "We are so far from dead," says Jeff Pino, senior vice-president marketing and commercial programmes. "We are disappointed and surprised by the VXX decision, but confident in our future."
The Stratford, Connecticut-based manufacturer's plans to double its revenues by 2008 remain intact, backed by substantial military business and growing commercial sales. Parent company United Technologies reported revenues at Sikorsky of $2.51 billion last year, up almost 15% from in 2003. This places the company ahead of Bell in revenues, but behind AgustaWestland and Eurocopter.
The gap is narrowing, however, as Sikorsky's military and commercial businesses undergo a resurgence. The company expects to fare well in the US defence budget unveiled this week, and will launch a new model of S-76 commercial helicopter at this week's Heli-Expo show in Anaheim, California.
The future of the company's "bread and butter" product, the UH-60 Black Hawk tactical transport, has been secured by the US Army's decision to procure new-build modernised UH-60Ms rather than remanufacture existing airframes. Expected orders for 1,200-1,800 new helicopters to be produced at a rate of 70-80 a year will extend production for another 15 years, says Pino.
At the same time, a new round of Naval Hawk production is ramping up, with around 500 MH-60S and MH-60R variants still to be built for the US Navy, and the first export orders received from Singapore and Turkey for a Sikorsky-developed version of the updated shipborne helicopter. A $34 million risk-reduction contract received in December kicked off development of an improved CH-53 heavylift helicopter for the US Marine Corps, with 154 new-build aircraft planned for delivery beginning in 2011-13, says Pino.
Sikorsky invested substantially in private-venture development of the commercial S-92, and launched work on the H-92 Superhawk military version ahead of the VXX decision. Although the VH-92 lost the competition, a Canadian Forces order for 28 maritime helicopters has secured the H-92 programme, Pino says. "They kicked off the H. We already planned to do the H, and to put in fly-by-wire, and Canada came along with specific requirements such as folding tail and rotor head."
Building on a resurgent military base, Sikorsky is growing its commercial business. "[This year] we will do six times the business we did in 2002 in commercial aircraft. We are building a record number of S-76s," Pino says. S-92 production is also ramping up, against orders for 60 and options for 30 more. The helicopter entered revenue service last week with Petroleum Helicopters, and the first aircraft for North Sea operations was delivered to Norsk Helikopter.
Last year's acquisition of light helicopter manufacturer Schweizer Aircraft was primarily to gain access to the unmanned air vehicle market, but is allowing Sikorsky to begin competing with its commercial helicopter rivals in delivery terms. "Next year, they will do 50-60 units," Pino says.
Higher production rates across the board is leading Sikorsky to outsource more manufacturing and focus on design, final assembly, flight test and delivery. "We want to stay within our footprint here," says Pino. H-60 airframe manufacture has been outsourced to Kaman Aerospace and Vought Aircraft Industries.
Sikorsky has decided not to bid for the US Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter programmes, and is instead looking further ahead. "With the business growing, we have the luxury to look at what is the next big thing we do that is not 'me too'," says Pino. "By the end of the year we will be better able to tell what the next breakthrough might be."
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
