After the U.S. Army canceled plans for a new armed scout helicopter, Sikorsky is laying off as many as 400 employees in Connecticut, primarily in its engineering and digital technology ranks who would have developed the chopper.
Sikorsky confirmed the layoffs on Tuesday to CT Insider, with a spokesperson not providing a specific number of workers impacted, but that it equated to less than 1 percent of parent Lockheed Martin's workforce, which numbered 122,000 people entering this year. One source familiar with the company's plans said the cuts would affect about 350 jobs in Stratford and another 50 elsewhere in Connecticut.
“We intend to retain as many roles as possible to meet national security commitments and preserve the U.S. rotary wing industrial base,” Sikorsky stated in an email forwarded Tuesday by a spokesperson.
In addition to Connecticut, where the manufacturer has its headquarters plant in Stratford, layoffs would extend to Sikorsky facilities in other states.
“It has been well documented that there is high demand for engineering and tech talent in our state right now, so it is our expectation these workers will be quickly and easily absorbed into our manufacturing ecosystem,” Julia Bergman, spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday evening, noting the governor spoke with Sikorsky's CEO Monday. “The state, through the departments of economic development and labor, is working with Sikorsky and other partners to help…
