LOCKHEED LANDS COPTER DEAL FOUR LOCAL FIRMS TO SERVE AS SUBCONTRACTORS FOR NAVY FLEET.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

SANTA CLARITA - Four local technology firms are subcontractors in Lockheed Martin's winning bid announced Friday for a $6.1 billion Navy contract to build the next-generation U.S. presidential helicopter fleet.

ITT Industries, Novacap, Wesco Aircraft and Whitmore/Wirenetics are among 42 California firms pegged to the US101, Lockheed's entry in the U.S. Navy competition to replace the helicopter better known by the call sign Marine One.

Barbara Boyd, contracts manager at ITT, declined to comment Friday, citing that the contract with Maryland-based Lockheed prevents the Valencia firm from discussing the award. Officials with Novacap, Wesco and Whitmore/Wirenetics could not be reached for comment.

Lockheed and its partners competed with Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft, which has built the presidential fleet since 1957, for the 23- helicopter contract.

``We are honored that trust has been placed in Lockheed Martin and Team US101 for this vital and highly visible mission,'' Robert J. Stevens, Lockheed's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Lockheed shares fell 2 cents to close at $56.38 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Sikorsky parent United Technologies Corp. shares lost 16 cents to close at $102.

For the winner the contract means millions of dollars in federal research funds, and a potential edge when the Pentagon looks to replace hundreds of search and rescue helicopters in coming years.

It also gives Lockheed the bragging rights to one of the most photographed helicopters in the world: the president's green-and-white aircraft often shown as it lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House.

The president ``needs a more survivable helicopter while the nation engages in the global war on terrorism,'' said John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, in making the announcement Friday.

Lockheed's entry is a variant of the British-Italian EH101 multimission helicopter designed by AugustaWestland, in service since 1997. It has been deployed in Bosnia and Iraq, and in search and rescue missions along Canada's coastlines.

Several key components, including the transmission and rotor blades, are built overseas. But Lockheed officials have said about 90 percent of the helicopter's lifetime maintenance costs would flow to U.S. suppliers.

ITT Industries of Valencia is providing pressure and temperature switches and indicators for the helicopter, while Novacap is offering radio components.

Wesco Aircraft is supplying rivets, pins and other fasteners for the aircraft, and Whitmore/Wirenetics has furnished cables and wiring for electronics systems.

Sikorsky and its backers argued that the VH-92 Super Hawk's all- American parts provided greater security than a helicopter built in part in other countries.

But the Navy went with the longer, wider, more powerful aircraft, with its three engines, built by General Electric Co. in Lynn, Mass. Sikorsky's Super Hawk has two engines.

Plans to replace the Marine Corps' aging presidential squadron took on greater importance after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Last year the White House pressed for an expedited bidding process because of security concerns, but Navy officials later delayed a decision, saying they needed about a year to get more information.

The companies submitted bids last February, and have waged a massive public relations campaign, complete with billboards, demonstration flights, ads and radio commercials.

Friday's loss is the second major defeat for Sikorsky in a little less than a year. Last February the Pentagon canceled the $39 billion Comanche helicopter program, which was a joint venture with Boeing Helicopters.

The company still builds one of the military's workhorse helicopters, the Black Hawk, which is being used broadly in the Iraq war. The Pentagon is expected to order hundreds more in coming years to replace current models.