Sikorsky won't sue over lost $70bn deal to replace 3,200 Apache and Black Hawk helicopters

Bell won the tender to produce the V-280 Valor tiltrotor for the US Army, which needs

new generation helicopter Future Long RangeAssault Aircraft (FLRAA). Lockheed Martin and Boeing filed a complaint, but it was dismissed. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, said it has no plans to go to court.

What is known

The United States Accounts Office (GAO) dismissed the complaint, inwhich Lockheed Martin and Boeing claimed that their Defiant X helicopter was a more suitable and profitable offer for the US Army. Representatives of Sikorsky still believe that their development is superior to the competitor's solution, but they do not plan to go to court.

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Instead, Sikorsky focus on creatingnew aircraft for the US Army as part of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. Flight testing of the first prototypes is expected to begin in fiscal year 2024 (FY) and development will continue until FY2026. Sikorsky will also continue to carry out maintenance on Black Hawk helicopters.

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As for the FLAAR project, it aims to replace3200 Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. Bell will receive $1.3 billion to develop the V-280 Valor tiltrotor and $7 billion to start small-scale production. The total cost of the project could reach $70 billion.