WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a founder of the bipartisan U.S. Senate caucus on Poland, on Wednesday applauded reports that Poland will purchase Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters. Lockheed Martin will work with Leonardo-Finmeccanica SpA of Italy to supply the helicopters, with Sikorsky producing two Black Hawks this year followed by eight more helicopters in 2017 and likely eleven more in 2018. Murphy strongly advocated for this deal, including by traveling to Poland to meet with Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak, as well as meeting with Polish Deputy Defense Minister Tomasz Szatkowski, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski and other Polish officials to make the case for Connecticut-made helicopters.

“It’s clear—Sikorsky helicopters are the best in the world. I’m thrilled that Poland decided to reverse its original bidding decision and choose Lockheed Martin to supply Black Hawks for the coming years,” said Murphy. “This deal will mean more manufacturing and engineering work coming to Stratford through the Black Hawk program, just as exciting new CH-53K King Stallion work begins to ramp up. Today’s a great day for jobs in Connecticut.”

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