Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and Aero Vodochody a.s. today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore aerospace industry cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. The companies also celebrated the 250th S-76® helicopter airframe to roll off the production line at Aero Vodochody. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).  

"Aero Vodochody is a very important supplier for Sikorsky and its work on the S-76 helicopter airframes has continued to excel, year over year. It is fitting that today's MOU announcement is accompanied by the marking of the 250th airframe completion, as it demonstrates the tremendous strength of our collaboration while pointing to a promising future,"  said Mick Maurer, Vice President, Operations.  

"We most highly value our cooperation with a world leader in helicopter production, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The 250th unit completed in our company thus represents a great milestone in our mutual cooperation. The S-76 helicopter airframe production is the largest program of our company in the field of aerostructures, which represent a key part of our current strategy," said Igor Hulak, President of Aero Vodochody.  

"The MOU is another step toward the future achievements that our companies will pursue together." Sikorsky has been growing its European business activities over the last several years. In 2007, PZL Mielec in Poland became a Sikorsky affiliate and is the future manufacturer of the S-70i BLACK HAWK helicopter. Sikorsky also is actively exploring business opportunities with strategic European partners for component manufacturing and service centers for the entire Sikorsky product line.

Aero Vodochody has been supplying airframes for the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter since 2000. The program includes detail part fabrication, airframe assembly, installation of hydraulic, electronic and fuel systems and avionics, and, following ground tests of the installed systems, management of more than 200 suppliers. The helicopter airframes are transported from Aero Vodochody by land to Germany, and then shipped to the United States. Finishing work is carried out at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. facilities in the United States. Aero Vodochody also has produced airframes of the development phase of the S-76D model, the newest version of the S-76 helicopter.