Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $1.2 billion contract to build the next fleet of presidential helicopters. Lockheed, in partnership with Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft, was given the contract announced on Wednesday. The integrated communications and mission systems for the helicopters will be installed at the Lockheed location in Owego. The project is expected to create or sustain up to 200 jobs at the Owego site, which currently is home to about 2,600 workers. Lockheed Martin was expected to work on the Marine One fleet five years ago, but the program was canceled, causing layoffs of hundreds of employees in Owego. President Obama canceled the contract to buy the new fleet of White House helicopters, a contract that was estimated to be worth as much as $13 billion. That cancelation led to 600 employees at Lockheed being served layoff notices. The company that Lockheed beat for that contract was Sikorksy, but now the two are working in tandem.
