Team US101 has identified 13 additional companies in Connecticut to supply components for the American- built US101 medium-lift helicopter. Team US101 is competing to provide the President of the United States with a fleet of next-generation helicopters.

"We are proud that workers in Connecticut will be among the thousands of Americans delivering helicopter parts and subsystems that will make the US101 the safest, most technologically-advanced helicopter for the Commander-in- Chief," said Stephen D. Ramsey, Lockheed Martin's US101 vice president and general manager. "The US101 is the only three-engine, battle-tested helicopter available for the President, and with the help of our Connecticut suppliers, the US101 helicopter will be as American as the workers who build it."

Earlier this summer, Kaman Aerospace of Bloomfield announced its participation in Team US101. Meanwhile, Team US101 continues discussions with a number of other Connecticut based firms regarding their possible participation in Team US101.

"We're delighted to be providing engine components to the US101 helicopter," said William Warner of Corru-Seals in Wallingford. "Our association with the three-engine US101 means our employees will get more work than they would receive from building parts for two-engine helicopters."

In addition to Kaman Aerospace, the Connecticut companies selected thus far to supply components for the US101 helicopter are:

  Astroseal Products Manufacturing, Inc.            Old Saybrook

  B and F Machine Company, Inc.                     New Britain

  Columbia Manufacturing, Inc.                      Columbia

  Corru-Seals, Inc.                                 Wallingford

  GAR Electroforming                                Danbury

  Kamatics Corporation                              Bloomfield

  RAF Electronic Hardware, a division
   of R & R Manufacturing                           Seymour

  Reliable Manufacturing Company, Inc.              Bloomfield

  Spectrum Associates, Inc.                         Milford

  Sterling Engineering Corporation                  Winsted

  Times Microwave Systems                           Wallingford

  Vitta Corporation                                 Bethel

  Whitcraft, LLC                                    Woodstock

The companies are among the more than 200 suppliers in 41 states chosen to date by Team US101 to produce key elements of the President's next Marine One aircraft. Leading American companies on Team US101 include General Electric, Northrop Grumman, ITT and Kaman. Over the course of the helicopter fleet's operational service life, 90 percent of the total life cycle costs will flow to Team US101's American suppliers.

The contract award from the U.S. Navy to build the presidential helicopter fleet is expected in December 2004.

Team US101 comprising Lockheed Martin, AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter Textron was formed to develop an American variant of AgustaWestland's successful EH101 multimission helicopter for the U.S. marketplace. Opportunities include a new Marine One fleet to fly the president of the United States, and combat search and rescue aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. The US101 team collectively brings unmatched rotorcraft expertise and experience: Lockheed Martin (prime contractor and systems integration), AgustaWestland (aircraft design) and Bell Helicopter (aircraft production).

For additional information, visit our website:

http://www.teamus101.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin