Aircraft

Sikorsky has received a contract worth a potential $11.6 billion to build up to 800 new helicopters for the US Army and Navy by 2012.

Signed on 13 December, the five-year deal includes a firm order worth $7.4 billion for 537 HH-60M medical evacuation and UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters, plus navy MH-60R/S Seahawks. The contract, first deliveries from which will be made by year-end, also includes options for another 263 aircraft, says Sikorsky.

© US Army

The award follows a January 2005 decision by the US Army to buy as many as 1,200 new-build UH-60Ms over the next decade, rather than continue with a remanufacturing programme for its legacy fleet of UH-60As.