Team US101 has responded to the U.S. Navy's request for an updated proposal offering executive transport variants of its American-built US101 medium-lift helicopters for the Presidential Helicopter Replacement (VXX) program. Team US101 is competing to provide the president of the United States with a state-of-the-art fleet of next- generation helicopters better known by the call sign: "Marine One."

"We are confident that the US101 provides the government with the best, lowest-risk, most mature and world-proven solution to the White House's need for new Marine One helicopters," said Stephen D. Ramsey, Lockheed Martin's US101 vice president and general manager. "Our helicopter will fly the president more safely and more securely than with what the competition is offering -- a twin-engine, one-third-smaller-cabined aircraft that is not yet operational with a paying customer."

The updated proposal contains information reflective of the ongoing risk reduction efforts the Navy has funded during the past few months. Details of the proposal cannot be disclosed because of competition-sensitive and proprietary information contained within the submission. The Navy's VXX program award announcement is expected to occur during December.

More than 200 suppliers in 41 states are supporting Team US101 with key products and services necessary for the president's new Marine One helicopter fleet. Some of the leading American companies on Team US101 include General Electric, ITT, Northrop Grumman, Kaman Aerospace and Palomar Products. 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.

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 http://www.teamus101.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego