$1.3 Billion Government Contract For Stratford Aircraft Manufacturer

Stratford company Sikorsky Aircraft has been awarded a $1.28 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force to build combat rescue helicopters, it was announced Thursday.

The contract to build four prototype Combat Rescue Helicopters may lead to a further $7.9 billion contract to build 112 aircraft to replace the aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter fleet, according to a release.

The helicopters will be used to rescue wounded, injured or stranded service personnel.

The Air Force said Sikorsky (a Stratford-based unit of United Technologies Corp) beat their affordability target by about $700 million, The Economic Times reports.

President Mick Maurer said the helicopters allowed the Air Force to "perform one of its most important and sacred missions - bringing our downed service members home safely," according to The Economic Times.  

"This is a big boost and a shot of energy not only for Sikorsky but for their subcontractors and the region," U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal told The Connecticut Post. "Something like this has a cascading and rippling effect for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of subcontractors. Its a huge step in a continuing path of preserving and creating jobs for the entire region."