Sikorsky’s parent company Lockheed Martin has opened a new $18 million engineering facility, labs and demonstration center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Among the teams based at the 122,000-square-foot facility are those working on readiness and sustainment for the U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, including the current Multi-Year X contract with production, Foreign Military Sales and all upgrades to the aircraft.
The facility is also home to a new Lockheed Martin Rotary Wing Innovation Center. Equipped with a modernized Black Hawk mission simulator and next-generation capability simulation tools, Sikorsky said the center will offer the Army an interactive view into the future of the Black Hawk. It is designed to be a meeting place for key Black Hawk stakeholders across the military, government, and industry.
Lockheed Martin celebrated the official opening of the facility on May 30, together with guests from the U.S. Department of Defense, and state and local officials.
“The crucial work being done here by our customers, our company, and our industry partners has made Alabama a key 21st-century, high-tech defense and deterrence provider that’s ramping up to ensure our troops will stay ahead of accelerating threats across every domain — land, sea, air, space, and cyber,” said Stephanie C. Hill, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems president.
The facility has space for 500 employees and is the 30th Lockheed Martin worksite in Alabama.
“Lockheed Martin’s presence in our state plays a crucial role in advancing national security, ensuring that our nation remains at the forefront of technological advancement,” said Kay Ivey, Alabama Governor. “Lockheed Martin’s continued investment in Alabama is a testament to the strength of our workforce and the strategic importance of Huntsville in shaping the future of defense.”
Among the work underway at the facility is preparation for a Multi-Year X Black Hawk contract opportunity, which would result in a modernized Black Hawk featuring greater ranger, payload and networked connectivity.
