Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of military and commercial helicopters. Its helicopters are used by all five branches of the United States armed forces, along with military services and commercial operators in 40 nations. Based in Stratford, Connecticut, the company was founded by aerospace pioneer and legend Igor Sikorsky in 1923 as the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation. Today, Sikorsky employs approximately 14,000 people globally, and operates facilities, joint ventures or major supplier operations in Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, China, India, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. Major U.S. facilities are located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania; Troy, Alabama; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Stratford, Trumbull and Shelton, Connecticut.