Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Sikorsky sees $4M from Blackwater unit for HUDs

By Brendan Lynch

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. reports it has landed $4 million from a subsidiary of mercenary company Blackwater Worldwide to provide head-up display systems.

Under the contract, the Stratford, Conn.-based company’s aerospace services division will provide Presidential Airways Inc. with head-up displays that allow pilots to see flight instruments and other helicopter information through an eyepiece in their helmet without having to look down at the instrument panel. The system can be used during day and night operations.

The display systems will be distributed by Helicopter Support Inc., a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Another United Technologies subsidiary, Pratt & Whitney, landed a deal worth up to $7 million from the U.S. Air Force yesterday for jet engines. Under the deal, Pratt & Whitney will provide eight F119 engines for the F-22 Raptor fighter plane.

Hartford, Conn.-based United Technologies reported a 2007 net income of $4.2 billion on revenue of $54.8 billion.