Aurora Flight Sciences, announced today that it has successfully delivered the first MH-60 Helicopter Sonobuoy launcher to Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX).

Earlier this year, Aurora received an order for 184 sonobuoy launchers. Each launcher holds 25 expendable sonobuoys, which are used by the Navy to detect submarines. The launchers are installed aboard MH-60R SEAHAWK® helicopters. Aurora builds the launchers at its plant in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

"This first delivery is an important milestone in Aurora's growing relationship with Sikorsky," said Dan Brady, Aurora's Vice President for Aerostructures. "Our goal is to become one of Sikorsky's suppliers of choice in the area of specialty composite structures and manufactured assemblies."

"The people of West Virginia are proud of the growing role we are playing in the nation's defense manufacturing capability," said Aurora's West Virginia plant manager, Ron Richman. "By leveraging Aurora's experience built up on programs like the Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle and the CH-53K helicopter, Aurora is positioning itself as a formidable supplier of fabrication and design/build services for aircraft operating in the maritime environment."