EH101 morphs into US101

The EH101 helicopter is about to take on an alias as Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland announce a ten-year agreement to market, produce and support the medium lift helicopter in the US under the title US101.

The new aircraft will be offered to three emerging markets in the US; US Air Force Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), US Coast Guard civilian Search and Rescue and US Marine Corps executive transport (read US Presidential helicopter fleet).

The move follows the successful collaboration by the two companies to produce the Merlin HM Mk1, a maritime version of the EH101, where Lockheed as prime systems integrator with Ag is delivering 44 Merlin Weapons Systems to the Royal Navy with AgustaWestland providing the EH101 aircraft.

"Under this agreeent Lockheed Martin will be the prime contractor responsible for building, drelivering and supporting the US101 to US customers," said Stephen Ramsey, vice president, Aerospace Systems for Lockheed's Systems Integration unit.

The two companies plan to hold a series of supplier conferences in the United States in the autumn to help identify US companies that can provide the more than 65% US content that the the US101 will have.

Stephen Moss president of AgustaWestland said, " The American built US101 will deliver a proven platform witha low risk approach for the US market.. Over the pas few months we have been marketing the US101 in the US and have been very pleased with the results.

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