Sikorsky boss Jeff Pino says his company "will compete really hard" against Bell and AgustaWestland for the new US presidential helicopter contract as all three airframers prepare to respond to a new request for information from the US Navy.
Pino says Sikorsky comes into the new competition with four years of Canadian Maritime H-92 experience "behind us", including introducing fly-by-wire and other upgrades to its largest civilian helicopter platform.
Sikorsky had proposed a version of its S-92 in the previous competition seven years ago, won by Lockheed and AgustaWestland together with their AW101-based VH-71. But rising costs led to cancellation in June 2009, after $3.2 billion was spent.
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However, AgustaWestland chief Guiseppe Orsi says: "The new RFI reads like the specification for the AW101. The AW101 was the best answer to the competition seven years ago, and it's still the best answer."
Meanwhile Bell Helicopter chief executive John Garrison says there are plans to offer a Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor option. Boeing could also propose a CH-47 Chinook for the programme. The RFI introduces the option of using two aircraft for the programme, one with a fully appointed executive suite and second aircraft with command, control and communications equipment.
Source: Flight International
