The Air Force recently formally awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Sikorsky for the initial engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the long-anticipated Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program, according to a service statement.

The contract also includes procurement of the first four of the program’s planned 112 aircraft. If all options are exercised, the total contract amount is valued at $7.9 billion. Sikorsky of United Technologies Corp. [UTX] was the only bidder.