The U.S. Navy said Wednesday the strike at Sikorsky Aircraft is causing "rapidly dwindling" supplies of spare parts for a military helicopter used in Iraq and around the world. A spokesman for the Navy says the strike, which is now in its sixth week, is forcing the Navy to borrow spare parts from choppers undergoing maintenance in order to keep the Sea Hawk helicopters in operation.

It is the first acknowledgment that the Sikorsky strike is having an impact on the military. But according to company spokesman Bud Grebey, Sikorsky has not been made aware of a need by the Navy to borrow parts due to the strike.

Sikorsky workers have been on strike since rejecting a contract that would have required them to pay more for health insurance.

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