Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary and Aurora Flight Sciences have developed robotic systems that are designed to operate aircraft autonomously as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency‘s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System initiative, Defense News reported Wednesday. Valerie Insinna writes Jean Charles-Lede, program manager at DARPA’s tactical technology program office, said the ALIAS program seeks a platform that can eliminate the […] More

Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary will donate an experimental aircraft that unofficially broke the rotorcraft speed record in 2010 to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Sikorsky designed the X2 Technology Demonstrator in a push to prove that helicopters can double the speed of conventional rotorcraft designs without having to […] More

A subsidiary of Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky unit has signed a distribution agreement with Arkwin Industries to exclusively market the latter’s products to international clients starting 2017. Sikorsky’s Derco Aerospace subsidiary will exclusively distribute Arkwin’s hydraulic, engine control/fuel system and thrust reverser components for fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft across multiple military platforms to all customers beyond the U.S. and Japan, Lockheed said Monday. […] More

The U.S. Marine Corps has assessed the key functions of a Sikorsky-built CH-53K King Stallion helicopter during a week-long initial operational test. Sikorsky’s parent company Lockheed Martin said Friday the military branch’s pilots, aircrew and maintainers performed the assessment as part of Milestone C requirements before the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter program transitions to the low-rate initial production phase. The flight test involved external lift […] More

A proposal by Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary to manufacture CH-53K King Stallion helicopters at a company facility in Stratford, Connecticut for the U.S. Navy was approved by local union members through a 2,104-140 vote, CTPost reported Monday. Amanda Cuda writes Teamsters Local 1150 stated that the Navy contract will become null and void if another production facility was selected since the contract […] More

The Connecticut General Assembly has approved a $220 million incentive package to keep the factory of Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky subsidiary in the state and increase the helicopter business’ workforce to more than 8,000 by 2032, Connecticut Post reported Wednesday. Ken Dixon writes Sikorsky will build 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters at its Stratford, Connecticut-based manufacturing facility as […] More

Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary will open a new forward stocking location for the S-92 helicopter at the Aberdeen International Airport in Scotland as part of efforts to position inventory closer to commercial helicopter operators. Lockheed said Tuesday Sikorsky will begin operations on the new FSL by the close of the third quarter and also expand an existing S-92 FSL […] More

Lockheed Martin and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy have signed a deal to keep the headquarters of Lockheed’s Sikorsky subsidiary in Connecticut and increase the helicopter business’ workforce in the state to more than 8,000 by 2032. Sikorsky will develop 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Navy over the next 16 years through its […] More

Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary will provide maintenance, repair and pilot simulator training support to Mexico’s UH-60 Black Hawk operators through Sikorsky’s facility in Colombia. Lockheed said Thursday Black Hawk operators in Mexico can go to the helicopter flight simulator center at the Colombian Air Force Base in Melgar to utilize its five-axis flight simulator as well as the depot repair facility at Tolemaida […] More

Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary has unveiled a new forward stocking location for S-76 and S-92 helicopter parts at its Helitech customer support center in Brisbane, Australia. Lockheed said Wednesday the in-country warehousing of spare parts aids Sikorsky’s efforts to boost customer support in the area by facilitating quicker access to materials for Australia-based commercial helicopter operators. “By positioning inventory parts closer […] More

The Sikorsky-built CH-53K King Stallion has accomplished an “out of ground effect” external load test to lift a 27,000 pound payload 100 feet above the ground while performing hover maneuvers. Lockheed Martin said Thursday the test was conducted at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center to display the aircraft’s control authority. “This is the most strenuous condition we had to demonstrate from a […] More

A Bluedrop Performance Learning subsidiary has secured a $13 million contract from Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary to provide aircrew training instructors and courseware in support of a maritime helicopter program in Canada. Bluedrop Training & Simulation said Tuesday the contract requires 30 technician and aircrew instructors, simulator operators and training program support personnel to train the 406 Operational and Training Squadron to operate Canada’s CH-148 […] More