The United Technologies Corporation is considering a spin-off or sale of Sikorsky, the maker of the Black Hawk helicopters favored by the United States military, according to people briefed on the matter.
Discussions about the fate of the Sikorsky unit are preliminary and may not result in a deal. But United Technologies is considering the unit as a candidate for a tax-free spinoff or potentially a sale to a rival.
Sikorsky has been part of United Technologies for nearly all of the helicopter maker’s 90-year history. In addition to the Black Hawk, Sikorsky makes a range of commercial and military helicopters, including the Seahawk and Superhawk. In recent years, the Pentagon has awarded $18 billion in contracts to Sikorsky, according to Defense News, which first reported United Technologies’ deliberations.
In 2011, the company acquired the aircraft parts maker Goodrich for $16.4 billion, a deal that moved it further into the heart of the commercial aviation industry. Since that deal was announced, United Technologies’ shares have risen 54 percent, as the company has rebounded along with the global travel industry in recent years.
A United Technologies spokesman declined to comment. Company shares were up more than 2 percent on Monday.
