Sikorsky Aircraft Corp and Boeing have signed a teaming agreement on Jan. 13 to submit a joint proposal in response to the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate solicitation for the Army's Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 program.

The JMR TD supports the Department of Defense's Future Vertical Lift program to deliver the next generation of vertical lift aircraft with greater performance, reliability and affordability.

"We are excited about this opportunity and for our customer. The Sikorsky and Boeing team brings together exceptional technical expertise," said Mick Maurer, president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

"Our customer can be assured this collaboration will bring together innovative, industry-leading engineering expertise with a deep bench of program leadership talent, and builds upon the combined resources of both companies to deliver a revolutionary capability for the warfighter at an affordable cost for the U.S. taxpayer."

"Our teaming agreement is the continuation of a long-standing relationship between Boeing and Sikorsky and reflects a common vision for the future of Army aviation," said Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Military Aircraft.

"Our combined technical strengths and our collective program management expertise make this partnership an exciting development in meeting the Army's JMR program objectives."

The Sikorsky and Boeing team will compete to build and fly one or more demonstrator aircraft in 2017 to be evaluated for next-generation vertical lift performance in a medium-lift-sized aircraft.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in aircraft design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.