$2.1B copter deal closer

India buy clears key committee for Sikorsky

STRATFORD — A key government committee in India signed off on a $2.1 billion purchase agreement to acquire two dozen naval helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky, with the deal having yet to be finalized.

An initial outline for an agreement was reached in 2018, with India publications citing a Ministry of Defense official last week who indicated a security committee had given its final approval in advance of President Donald Trump’s visit this week to

India.

India wants 24 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters powered with engines from the GE Aviation subsidiary of General Electric. The Seahawk variants would replace more than 30 Sea King helicopters built or licensed by Sikorsky, part of India’s total fleet of 185 helicopters, according to FlightGlobal.com, excluding training aircraft.

It is an open question on how much work from any India contract would flow through to Sikorsky’s main plant in Stratford and satellite offices in Shelton and Bridgeport, which with more than 7,600 employees make Sikorsky and parent Lockheed Martin the largest corporate employer in western Connecticut.

Aviation and defense are two industries subject to “Make in India” rules established in 2014, under which India requires some domestic manufacturing work for major purchases by its government. Separately more than a decade ago under former parent United Technologies, Sikorsky teamed with the Mumbai-based conglomerate Tata Group to produce cabins in India for its big S-92 helicopters.

Associated Press file photo A file photo of Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters in action in Indonesia. Sikorsky hopes to sell 24 of the MH-60R variant of the helicopter to India.