PARIS AIR SHOW, PARIS, France - 

Mitsubishi Corporation has contracted with Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), to acquire 11 S-76D™ helicopters for use in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG).

The new helicopters were ordered in three contracts that were finalized between Feb. 2012 and March 2013. The contracts are the largest series of orders to date in Asia for Sikorsky’s newest commercial product. Sikorsky announced the contracts today at the Paris Air Show.

“The Japan Coast Guard has a long history with the S-76® model in the SAR role,” said Christophe Nurit, Sikorsky’s Vice President of Sales, Asia. “We are honored that JCG has chosen our most advanced S-76D helicopter variant for this critical life-saving mission.”

The S-76D helicopter, which received FAA certification in 2012, is the latest in the family of popular Sikorsky’s S-76 helicopters. More than 800 S-76 helicopters in the global fleet have accumulated 6.2 million flight hours during three decades of operation.

Among other essential equipment crucial to the search and rescue mission, the JCG aircraft will feature a fully coupled four-axis SAR autopilot to reduce pilot workload and enhance overall mission safety.

Designed for safety, reliability and efficiency, the S-76D helicopter features all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; a fully integrated THALES glass cockpit; health and usage monitoring system; active vibration control; and powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines, which deliver the best in class power-to-weight ratio and fuel burn with excellent payload and range benefits.

Mitsubishi’s first S-76D helicopter is scheduled to assume an operational role for the JCG in 2014.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. For updates from United Technologies Corp.’s aerospace businesses visit www.utcaero.com or follow @UTC on Twitter.