Romaero signs contract for maintenance of Black Hawk helicopters

Romanian company Romaero and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, part of Lockheed Martin Group, have signed today, in Bucharest, at the Ministry of Economy, an industrial partnership for the assembly and maintenance of the multi-mission Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Romaero-Sikorsky industrial partnership ensures the participation on the long-term of several companies from the Romanian defense industry for the assembling, fitting, customization and maintenance works for the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The Bucharest center will be the only one authorized by the Lockheed Martin Group for the fitting and maintenance of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Central Europe, Romanian Ministry of Economy states in a press release.

Romanian Minister of Economy, Dănuţ Andruşcă, President of the Defense Commission from the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Dorel Căprar, and representatives of US Embassy in Bucharest attended the Industrial Partnership signing ceremony.

„The agreement signed today represents a confirmation of the Romanian industry potential, which is able to make products with high added value. We are waiting to see which will be the concrete economic effects of this agreement and how fast it will be felt at the level of the Romanian industry and economy. Ministry of Economy will support the initiatives of the subordinated companies that can lead to the relaunch of the industrial activity. At the same time, this agreement is a confirmation of the good relations and the strategic partnership between Romania and the USA”, said Andruşcă.

„Our ability to supply the most capable helicopter in the terrestrial fight (AsuW) and anti-submarine (ASW) could offer Romania, at the most competitive price, the necessary coverage for the important strategic position that it has at the Black Sea”, said Eric Schreiber, Vice-President of Sikorsky.

Remus Vulpescu, General Manager of Romaero SA, has qualified the qualities of the Black Hawk helicopter as impressive: "It can perform missions in all seasons, it can fly in the storm, day or night, it is very fast and it can carry a large number of passengers that it even protects from cannon balls of up to 23 mm. Equipped with weaponry, Black Hawk becomes comparative even with combat-specific aircraft. In humanitarian missions, it is hard to beat, and as an airborne border guard vehicle it is particularly valuable”.

At the same time, "Romaero will take all necessary steps to ensure the success of this project with coverage from Turkey to Poland. Our 100 years of experience in civil and military aeronautics, qualified human resources, educational infrastructure and production capabilities available - both in Bucharest and our at partners in the territory - make Romania attractive for the world's largest military equipment manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin Corporation. At the sectoral level, a high degree of cohesion of the defense industry and the positive approach of the political environment can bring important opportunities for economic and technological development to Romania, especially in the context of increasing the level of commitment of our country in strategic partnerships such as the one with NATO", said Remus Vulpescu.

"Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is the world's most used multi-mission helicopter with over 4,500 units in service in the US Army and in the armies of more than 20 states. The helicopter will have a service life beyond 2050. With over 17 equipment variants, Black Hawk provides reference capabilities in special forces operations, various combat missions, search and rescue missions, transport missions and logistics support in military operations areas, but also in missions that are characteristic of emergency medical services or the fight against calamities, and in humanitarian support. The helicopter can also be equipped for official use at the highest level", Romanian Ministry of Economy states.

Lockheed Martin is an American group specializing in research, development, production and integration of advanced military technology, a leading aerospace builder and Pentagon's largest aerospace and technological equipment provider. The company has a turnover of 46 billion US dollars in 2015, with 97,000 employees and present in 75 countries around the world.

Among the equipment produced by the Lockheed Martin Group, the Romanian Armed Forces are already successfully operating the F-16 fighters and the C-130 Hercules military airplanes. "These, together with the Black Hawk helicopter, will be present alongside other high-tech military vehicles and equipment at the 2018 International Black Sea Defense & Aerospace (BSDA) exhibition, to be held from 16 to 18 May at the premises of Romaero Bucharest", according to the Ministry of Economy.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei