U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Congressman John Larson (CT-1), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) released the following statement after Lockheed Martin announced they would build nearly 200 new CH-53K King Stallion helicopters at Sikorsky in Stratford, bringing critical federal investment to Connecticut’s defense manufacturing industry.

“This deal is a win for Connecticut, Sikorsky, and workers up and down the supply chain,” said the delegation. “The biggest news is that the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, which could have been assembled outside of Connecticut, will now be made in Stratford. This helicopter represents the future of Sikorsky's production line, so it cements the company's presence in Stratford for decades to come.”

“Stratford became world famous for building Black Hawks, the best military helicopter ever built. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Malloy and close cooperation among Lockheed Martin and federal, state, and local leaders, we can all celebrate that the next generation of world-class helicopters will remain Connecticut-made,” the delegation added.