OWEGO, NY, 14 June 2006. Lockheed Martin executives along with military and government officials formally opened the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Integration Facility.
"Today puts us one step closer to seeing a new presidential helicopter flying from the White House," says Bob Stevens, chairman president, and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin. "It is a tangible example of the commitment of the entire Lockheed Martin Corporation to the success of this critical program."
In addition to Stevens, elected and U.S. Navy officials attending today's ribbon cutting event included:
Governor of New York George Pataki (R)
U.S. Senator from New York Charles Schumer (D)
U.S. Senator from New York Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
U.S. Representative from New York Maurice Hinchey (D-22nd), and
Dr. Delores Etter, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition
Rear Admiral Mark Fox, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office
The new 176,000-square-foot facility features aircraft integration hangars, program management and engineering office space, systems integration laboratories, aircraft parts storage, and maintenance and helicopter paint facilities. The complex also includes a new helicopter flight operations area.
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the Navy's VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program with overall responsibility for the program and aircraft system. The VH-71 is based on the US101 helicopter, the American variant of AgustaWestland's successful EH101 multimission helicopter. AgustaWestlandBell, the U.S. principal subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, has responsibility for the basic air vehicle design, production build, and basic air vehicle support functions. More than 200 suppliers in 41 states support the VH-71 program.
