Article Posted on : - May 05, 2011

The T-70 helicopter will be based on S-70i Black Hawk, the latest variant of Black Hawk chopper.

STRATFORD, US (BNS): Turkey has selected US’s Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for a contract to co-produce 109 derivative Black Hawk multi-mission helicopters.

Under the contract, valued at worth $3.5 billion, Sikorsky along with other American and Turkish companies will provide components for the new fleet of T-70 choppers which will be based on the S-70i Black Hawk, the latest variant of Black Hawk helicopter.

The T-70 helicopters will be assembled in Turkey by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the prime contractor for the programme.

“The Turkish Utility Helicopter, derived from the Black Hawk helicopter, will be an advanced, combat-proven, multi-mission helicopter that can meet all of the mission and performance requirements,” said Mick Maurer, president of Sikorsky Military Systems.

Turkey’s Government and military will use the new choppers for various operations, including troops’ transportation, SAR and electronic warfare missions.

As part of its contract proposal, Sikorsky will also invest in expanding the dynamic components manufacturing capability of Alp Aviation, which is 50percent owned by Sikorsky, the company said.

Additionally, the industrialisation proposal will allow Turkish industry access to the Sikorsky global supply chain including sale of Turkish assembled aircraft to future Sikorsky international customers, it said.

The expected 10-year contract also would call for aftermarket support, including training and maintenance, leveraging Sikorsky’s and Turkey’s existing maintenance infrastructure to provide service and to supply parts and components to customers worldwide, it further added.