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| Sunday, 30 January 2005 |
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Lockheed Martin to build Marine One presidential helicopter WASHINGTON, Saturday (AFP) The US Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a 1.7 billion dollar contract to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters Friday, picking its European designed helicopter for the signature dark green-and-white ride of US presidents. The contract would ultimately be worth 6.1 billion dollars for the 23 helicopters that the government wants to acquire for the presidential fleet, Navy officials said. "This decision truly reflects the best value and capability for the American taxpayer who is funding it, and the Marines who will operate it and the future presidents who will fly in it," said John Young, the Navy assistant secretary for research, development and acquisitions. The decision culminated an intense competition between Lockheed Martin's European-designed US-101 helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp's all-American entry, the S-92. Appeals to patriotism and worries about loss of US jobs to Europe were set against personal lobbying by leaders of Italy and Britain, the United States's most steadfast allies in Iraq. But Young said both teams met the requirements of "buy American" provisions under US law, and beyond that the degree of US content in the aircraft was not a factor in the decision. About two thirds of the Lockheed Martin helicopter would be built in the United States, and a third in Britain and Italy, the officials said. The primary fuselage and the main rotor blade would be built in Britain and gear boxes and other dynamic components in Italy, they said. Friday's contract commits 1.7 billion dollars to the development and demonstration of the helicopter. But Young estimated that it will cost a total of 6.1 billion dollars to develop and procure 23 helicopters. Plans call for the delivery of three test helicopters and five initial helicopters by 2009 at a cost of 3.5 billion dollars, including research and development. |
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