Lockheed Martin has again found itself to be the likely winner of a contract to build presidential helicopters. This time around, Lockheed is working for the company it beat out for the contract four years ago: Sikorsky Aircraft of Connecticut. Sikorksy is heading up the bid for Marine One, which is the helicopter that carries the President away from the White House lawn. The bid must be submitted before the deadline today. A spokesman for Sikorsky said on Tuesday that a majority of the work on the helicopters would be performed at the Lockheed Martin in Owego, along with Sikorsky’s headquarters in Statford, Connecticut. A contract to buy a new fleet of White House helicopters four years ago was canceled due to costs, which had reached as much as $10 billion. Lockheed Martin was originally set to fulfill the contract, but when the government canceled the contract, the Owego location felt the effects, having to serve layoff notices to about 600 employees. The latest plan is to buy 21 helicopters that would enter service in 2020. Lockheed officials said they are not able to speculate on how many employees would be hired in Owego should their team win the contact. The Owego facility currently has approximately 2,700 employees.
