Lockheed Martin to open Marine One helicopter facility

OWEGO, N.Y. --Development of the next-generation Marine One aircraft will move forward next week when Lockheed Martin formally opens its presidential helicopter integration facility near Binghamton.

Lockheed won the $1.7 billion contract early last year after a fierce competition with Sikorsky Aircraft of Stratford, Conn.

The $25 million facility at Lockheed's Owego plant will house administrative offices, laboratories and an aircraft integration hangar.

U.S. Navy representatives and members of Congress will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility on Monday.

Lockheed says it's hired most of the 700 people expected to work at the Owego site on the presidential helicopter program.

The Lockheed contract calls for the production of 23 operational aircraft and three test aircraft.

The first U.S. 101 helicopter available to transport the president should go into operation in 2009.