The U.S. Navy is expected to award a contract for 23 new presidential helicopters sometime in the next several weeks, and the team of Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft figure to be the frontrunners for the bid. Officials for the Navy say they are completing steps toward awarding a development contract soon with a planned start date in May. If awarded the contract, Lockheed Martin in Owego would provide the mission systems for the new helicopters.
The program to build the Marine One fleet could sustain 200 jobs in Owego, which currently is home to 2,600 employees following layoffs this past August. The latest numbers from the federal budget show $80 million in the fiscal year budget for 2014 for the Marine One program.
Back in 2009, President Barack Obama canceled a contract to buy a new fleet of White House helicopters, which resulted in layoff notices for about 600 employees at Lockheed in Owego.
According to Senator Charles Schumer, the team of Lockheed and Sikorsky is the only bidder for the contract.
