By the end of 2006, the design center will employ 40 engineers, with the potential to expand if business conditions warrant. Engineers at the center will perform targeted airframe and subsystem detail design activities to support anticipated growth of several Sikorsky military and commercial programs and related aftermarket services.
Sikorsky is currently seeking and reviewing proposals from several engineering services providers to set up and operate the facility. The selected provider will be announced in late April, with operations scheduled to begin in July with approximately 20 engineers. The specific location within Bozeman is currently under evaluation.
"We are excited about locating a new engineering design center in Bozeman," said Mark Miller, Sikorsky vice president of research and engineering. "It is a growing, economically dynamic region with excellent universities having strong engineering programs. Opening this center is another part of our strategy to maintain our Rotorcraft Center of Excellence in Stratford while offloading targeted detail design activities, thus providing best value to our customers."
In 2005, engineering service providers opened similar engineering design centers in Lexington, Ky., and West Lafayette, Ind., to perform work for Sikorsky. Placing targeted airframe and subsystems detail design work in design centers allows Sikorsky to concentrate its engineering personnel and resources on systems integration, vehicle definition, dynamic systems design and other competencies in its facilities in Connecticut, Florida and Alabama.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacturing, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
