Sikorsky Helicopters Halted by U.S. Navy
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Sikorsky Helicopters Halted by U.S. Navy
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Sikorsky copters halted by Navy
Report says military seeks solution to manufacturing problem with Black Hawks, MH-60S.
February 28, 2004: 4:06 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has put off accepting new Black Hawk and MH-60S helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. until it fixes a "systemic manufacturing problem" on its production line, a U.S. Navy report said.
The report is dated Feb. 24, one day after the Pentagon announced it was scrapping the $39 billion Comanche helicopter built by Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX :Research ,Estimates ), and Boeing Co. (BA :Research ,Estimates )
The report from the Navy program office comes amid a fierce competition between Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT :Research ,Estimates ) to build a new presidential helicopter.
Stripped bolts, leaking gearboxes, bolts insufficiently tightened and parts mix-ups between Navy and Army models of the MH-60 helicopter were among the problems listed in the report obtained by Reuters.
"In the past few weeks, several serious manufacturing issues have arisen on the production line," said the report. "The issues are not confined to Sierra, but have occurred plant-wide, indicating a systemic manufacturing problem on the production line."
Sierra is the Navy's term for the "S" version of the MH-60 helicopter.
Sikorsky has already delivered 50 of the transport version of the MH-60S Knighthawks to the Navy and is building a variant that will be used for mine detection.
The MH-60S is an amalgam of the Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk Army helicopter and its Navy variant, the SH-60B Seahawk.
Deliveries expected to resume soon
Acceptance by the Army and Navy was seen resuming in the next few weeks, the report said, depending on Sikorsky's response to the Defense Contract Management Agency.
"This is a very short term, temporary process," said Sikorsky spokesman Matt Broder, adding that the government had told Sikorsky it planned to resume flight tests Monday.
Renee Hatcher, spokeswoman for Naval Air Systems Command, said it was not unusual for the government to hold aircraft acceptance for compliance with specifications.
"We do not anticipate any significant impact to fleet deliveries," Hatcher added, noting the Navy had already bought 53 MH-60S helicopters and planned to purchase a total of 271 over the next few years for a total contract value of $6 billion.
The status report said Sikorsky was addressing a problem with cracks developing in reinforcement straps, which could result in frame damage. It said a retrofit was approved in early February, and production changes were being made.
Report says military seeks solution to manufacturing problem with Black Hawks, MH-60S.
February 28, 2004: 4:06 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has put off accepting new Black Hawk and MH-60S helicopters built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. until it fixes a "systemic manufacturing problem" on its production line, a U.S. Navy report said.
The report is dated Feb. 24, one day after the Pentagon announced it was scrapping the $39 billion Comanche helicopter built by Sikorsky, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX :Research ,Estimates ), and Boeing Co. (BA :Research ,Estimates )
The report from the Navy program office comes amid a fierce competition between Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT :Research ,Estimates ) to build a new presidential helicopter.
Stripped bolts, leaking gearboxes, bolts insufficiently tightened and parts mix-ups between Navy and Army models of the MH-60 helicopter were among the problems listed in the report obtained by Reuters.
"In the past few weeks, several serious manufacturing issues have arisen on the production line," said the report. "The issues are not confined to Sierra, but have occurred plant-wide, indicating a systemic manufacturing problem on the production line."
Sierra is the Navy's term for the "S" version of the MH-60 helicopter.
Sikorsky has already delivered 50 of the transport version of the MH-60S Knighthawks to the Navy and is building a variant that will be used for mine detection.
The MH-60S is an amalgam of the Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk Army helicopter and its Navy variant, the SH-60B Seahawk.
Deliveries expected to resume soon
Acceptance by the Army and Navy was seen resuming in the next few weeks, the report said, depending on Sikorsky's response to the Defense Contract Management Agency.
"This is a very short term, temporary process," said Sikorsky spokesman Matt Broder, adding that the government had told Sikorsky it planned to resume flight tests Monday.
Renee Hatcher, spokeswoman for Naval Air Systems Command, said it was not unusual for the government to hold aircraft acceptance for compliance with specifications.
"We do not anticipate any significant impact to fleet deliveries," Hatcher added, noting the Navy had already bought 53 MH-60S helicopters and planned to purchase a total of 271 over the next few years for a total contract value of $6 billion.
The status report said Sikorsky was addressing a problem with cracks developing in reinforcement straps, which could result in frame damage. It said a retrofit was approved in early February, and production changes were being made.
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Reuters, 03.04.04, 3:52 PM ET
Sikorsky helicopter woes resolved - US Navy officer
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters)
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters)
- Quality problems that delayed U.S. acceptance of new Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. MH-60 helicopters appear to have been resolved, a top Navy program officer told Congress on Thursday.
"We expect the aircraft that were previously presented for sale will in fact be accepted, perhaps as early as tomorrow but certainly by sometime next week," said Tom Laux, the Navy's executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs.
Sikorsky, a United Technologies Corp. (nyse: UTX - news - people) unit, worked closely with the military to fix the series of "medium to minor" problems, Laux added in an interview after the hearing.
"So we expect this to be behind us very quickly," he told the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee's panel on tactical air and land forces.
The military had put off accepting new Black Hawk and Knighthawk helicopters until Sikorsky fixed a "systemic manufacturing problem" on its production line, a Feb. 24 report by the U.S. Navy's program office said.
In his testimony, Laux did not elaborate on the problems but said they did raise flight or safety issues.
The Navy report on the issue obtained by Reuters had listed stripped bolts, leaking gearboxes, bolts insufficiently tightened and part mix-ups between Navy and Army MH-60 models as among the problems.
"We expect the aircraft that were previously presented for sale will in fact be accepted, perhaps as early as tomorrow but certainly by sometime next week," said Tom Laux, the Navy's executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs.
Sikorsky, a United Technologies Corp. (nyse: UTX - news - people) unit, worked closely with the military to fix the series of "medium to minor" problems, Laux added in an interview after the hearing.
"So we expect this to be behind us very quickly," he told the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee's panel on tactical air and land forces.
The military had put off accepting new Black Hawk and Knighthawk helicopters until Sikorsky fixed a "systemic manufacturing problem" on its production line, a Feb. 24 report by the U.S. Navy's program office said.
In his testimony, Laux did not elaborate on the problems but said they did raise flight or safety issues.
The Navy report on the issue obtained by Reuters had listed stripped bolts, leaking gearboxes, bolts insufficiently tightened and part mix-ups between Navy and Army MH-60 models as among the problems.
