Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the award of the Combat Tempered Platform Demonstration (CTPD) contract from the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD). This program will build upon and improve the BLACK HAWK platform's already high operational durability and survivability by developing and integrating a suite of advanced new technologies and establishing their benefits before transitioning them to the platform and eventual use by the nation's soldiers. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

This project builds upon previous work by Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization for Sikorsky Aircraft, by advancing key technologies including a zero-vibration system, adaptive flight control laws, advanced fire management, durable main rotor, full-spectrum crashworthiness, and damage tolerant airframe. The work scope of the new contract involves establishing the benefits of these technologies as a complete system through realistic ground and flight testing. Sikorsky Innovations is joined by a strong team of more than 15 partnering companies including Lord Corporation, Phyre Technologies, and Firetrace Aerospace.

"CTPD is truly a capstone project that ties together many lines of technological development and culminates in a series of realistic integrated demonstrations," said Mark Miller, Vice President of Sikorsky's Research and Engineering organization, which includes Sikorsky Innovations. "This program shows Sikorsky Innovations' commitment to work with AATD to develop solutions to the war fighter's toughest challenges."

"As Sikorsky modernizes the BLACK HAWK fleet and prepares for the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) helicopter competition for the future replacement of the fleet, it is imperative that we continue to develop and integrate the latest technologies into flight solutions that give our soldiers the protection they deserve," said Chris Van Buiten, Vice President of Sikorsky Innovations.