WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. leading helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky had secured a contract worth 717 million U.S. dollars, Sikorsky's parent company Lockheed Martin said on Monday.
According to the contract, Sikorsky will provide supply and logistics support to the entire fleet of CH-53E "Super Stallions" and MH-53E "Sea Dragon" helicopters, which were widely used by U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy.
"Our support infrastructure and past performance-based logistics successes will result in Sikorsky continuing to reliably provide mission support critical to the warfighter," said Pierre Garant, Sikorsky's senior program manager of Marine Corps In-Service Programs.
The Connecticut-based helicopter company will provide services including repairs, overhauls, spares, obsolescence mitigation and asset management over four years, according to the contract.
"We expect the expanded performance-based logistics to measurably improve material availability and reduce support cost while increasing overall aircraft readiness," Garant said.
The CH-53E "Super Stallion" is capable of heavy equipment lifting over rugged terrain in bad weather and at night. The MH-53E "Sea Dragon" could carry out the Navy's long-range minesweeping missions and heavy-lift duties.
Sikorsky made the world's first practical helicopter in 1939. The company is a leading helicopter manufacturer in the world and a major helicopter contractor of U.S. Armed Forces.
