WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a founder of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Caucus on Poland, released a statement welcoming reports of new negotiations between Poland and Lockheed Martin for the sale of up to 70 Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopters. Murphy, the former Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe, personally met with the Polish Minister of Defense Siemoniak in January 2015 to urge Poland to choose Stratford, Connecticut’s Sikorsky. 

“Sikorsky helicopters are the best in the world, and I’m thrilled Poland has restarted negotiations with Lockheed Martin. I met with Polish Minister of Defense Siemoniak last year and vigorously made the case that the U.S.-Poland relationship would be much stronger if Poland went with the higher performing Blackhawk,” said Murphy. “From Sikorsky to Electric Boat to Pratt and Whitney, Connecticut defense manufacturers are on a roll. I will follow these negotiations closely, and do everything I can to help Sikorsky in this process because a new contract for 70 helicopters would mean billions of dollars in business for Sikorsky and more work for the skilled Stratford workers who have made the Blackhawk the international standard.”