"Scores of Mississippi workers may soon be working on one of the most prestigious aerospace programs in the world - building the President's helicopter fleet," said Stephen D. Ramsey, vice president of Lockheed Martin's US101 program.

"Thousands more skilled workers across the country will be a part of this great team. The US101 truly will be as American as the workers who build it."

If selected, the US101 program would boost Mississippi's economy, creating and sustaining many jobs at such local companies as Choctaw-based Applied Geo Technologies Inc. (AGT) and at Eaton Aerospace's Jackson facilities.

"The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is a valued partner of AgustaWestland and we look forward to working with them on the US101 program," said Stephen C. Moss, president of AgustaWestland Inc., a member of Team US101. "Team US101 could not ask for more diligent and trustworthy partners for this most critical and sensitive task."

Team US101 has established a Mentor-Protege Program with the Choctaw so that the Tribe will be able to offer its expertise not only to a new Marine One, but ultimately to high-tech industries across the nation.

"We are proud to partner with Team US101 on such an important program," said Phillip Martin, Tribal Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

"Of course, the program will generate jobs and income for our community and for the state of Mississippi in the near term. But just as importantly, the program will help us develop business relationships that will benefit our community and the state long after we have built the last Marine One."

The US101 helicopter is based on the proven EH101 military design, which has been delivered to five NATO countries and Japan, with more than 56,000 flight hours of service in Iraq, Bosnia and elsewhere. At the event, which was held at Jackson International Airport, a military variant of the US101 helicopter took the attendees on a brief aerial tour.

Defense and aerospace experts have noted that the US101 is a technologically superior aircraft. It has three engines so that, unlike a dual-engine helicopter, the helicopter can land and takeoff safely even if it loses an engine.

US101 has the most advanced and integrated avionics, navigation, communications and security systems and can accommodate the weight and integration of additional systems as the industry advances.

Furthermore, its superior growth capacity enables the aircraft to undergo inevitable and necessary modifications that add weight to the aircraft over time.

AGT will supply wire harnesses for the US101 helicopters, while Eaton will supply fluid conveyance components. In addition to AGT and Eaton, more than 200 other suppliers in more than 40 states have been chosen to support Team US101.

Other leading American companies on Team US101 include ITT, Northrop Grumman, Kaman Aerospace and Palomar Products. During the course of the helicopter fleet's operational service life, 90 percent of the total life cycle costs will flow to Team US101's American suppliers.

The U.S. Navy's VXX award decision announcement is expected during December 2004.

Team US101 is led by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego, which serves as the prime contractor and systems integrator for the American-built US101 aircraft, an American variant of AgustaWestland's successful EH101 multimission helicopter.

The US101 team collectively brings unmatched rotorcraft expertise and experience to this program: Lockheed Martin (prime contractor and systems integration), AgustaWestland (aircraft design) and Bell Helicopter (aircraft production), while General Electric will supply each helicopter with three, 2,500 shaft-horsepower CT7-8E engines.

Team US101