Steve O’Bryan: Lockheed Aims to Include Weapons, Combat Training in Sikorsky’s Helicopter Bid in Poland

A Lockheed Martin official has said that Lockheed plans to incorporate pricing based on Poland’s currency, combat training and weapons into Sikorsky’s new proposal to produce 50 helicopters should the Polish government decide to cancel a $3 billion provisional deal with Airbus Group.

Steve O’Bryan, head of business development mission systems and training business at Lockheed, told Reuters reporter Andrea Shalal in an interview published Wednesday that Lockheed’s purchase of Sikorsky in 2015 has resulted in opportunities to make changes to Sikorsky’s original bid with Poland.

Lockheed finalized its acquisition of Sikorsky from United Technologies Corp. for approximately $9 billion in November 2015.

According to the report, Poland’s previous government agreed to procure 50 units of EC-725 Caracal helicopters from Airbus under a provisional agreement.

O’Bryan also noted that competition in arms market calls for weapons manufacturers to advance technology transfer and establish partnerships with local industries, Shalal reports.