Team US101 has announced that 11 companies in Ohio and West Virginia will supply components to 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 better known by their call-sign: "Marine One."

"We are pleased that these fine Ohio companies -- such as DuPont in Valley View -- are supporting Team US101," said Stephen D. Ramsey, Lockheed Martin's US101 vice president and general manager. "We are also proud to have a West Virginia supplier -- Star Technologies of Huntington -- participating in the US101 program. These firms, along with the other suppliers selected nationwide, will make the US101 helicopter as American as the workers who build it."

The Ohio and West Virginia companies that will supply components for the US101 helicopter are:

   Auxitrol Aerospace Business Group             Painesville, OH
   DuPont(TM) Vespel(R) Parts & Shapes, Inc.     Valley View, OH
   Unison Industries, LLC                        Dayton, OH
   Enginetics Aerospace Corporation              Huber Heights, OH
   Fluid Regulators Corporation                  Painseville, OH
   Honeywell - Lighting & Electronics            Urbana, OH
   Pako, Inc.                                    Mentor, OH
   Star Technologies, LLC                        Huntington, WV
   Thermagon, Inc.                               Cleveland, OH
   Tyco Electronics                              Mansfield, OH
   Voss Industries, Inc.                         Cleveland, OH

Team US101 is recognizing these suppliers at this time for their continuous support during the very rigorous Presidential Helicopter Replacement (or VXX) competition. Meanwhile, Team US101 continues to conduct risk reduction efforts prior to the U.S. Navy award decision announcement, currently expected sometime during December 2004.

These 11 suppliers are among the more than 200 suppliers in 41 states chosen to support Team US101 with key products and services necessary for the president's new Marine One helicopter fleet. Other leading American companies on Team US101 include General Electric, Northrop Grumman, ITT and Kaman. During 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, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs nationwide while building these new Marine One helicopters.

"We're proud to be involved with this project," Daniel Sedor, Sr. President of Voss Industries, Inc., said. "Marine One is one of America's symbols -- easily and instantly recognized worldwide -- and we're glad Cleveland-made parts will be flying on those helicopters."

Team US101 is led by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, which serves as the prime contractor and systems integrator for the American-built US101 aircraft, an American variant of AgustaWestland's successful EH101 multimission helicopter. The US101 team collectively brings unmatched rotorcraft expertise and experience to this program: Lockheed Martin (prime contractor and systems integration), AgustaWestland (aircraft design) and Bell Helicopter (aircraft production), while General Electric will supply each helicopter's three CT7-8E engines.

              For additional information, visit our website:
                         http://www.teamus101.com/

DuPont is a trademark and Vespel is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin