Army orders 12 Mississippi-made helicopters
The U.S. Army has exercised $65.8 million in contract options for 12 UH-72A Lakota helicopters and associated mission equipment packages from Airbus Defense and Space in Columbus.
Since 2006, Airbus has delivered almost 350 Lakotas to the Army and Navy and for foreign military sales customers. The UH-72A is used for a broad range of active Army and Army National Guard missions, including training, search and rescue, medical evacuation, border security, command and control, VIP transport and general utility.
The 12 aircraft on this latest contract option will be delivered starting in August of 2017, configured for the Army as initial entry rotary-wing trainers. This year the Army has fielded more than 50 Lakotas to Fort Rucker, Alabama, in preparation for the UH-72A’s formal introduction into the training curriculum in early fiscal year 2016.
The Army’s ultimate plans call for an initial-entry rotary wing training fleet of 187 Lakotas, made up of a mix of new deliveries and already in-service aircraft reconfigured for the training mission.
“Time and again the UH-72A has proven to be the most cost-effective solution to meet a wide variety of needs for the U.S. military and our allies,” Allan McArtor, Airbus Group Inc. chairman and CEO, said in a company news release. “The Army’s flawless execution of the Lakota program has proven that even in today’s challenging defense acquisition environment, there are success stories for the taxpayer and warfighter alike.”
Airbus Helicopters CEO Chris Emerson said that almost half the employees who build the Lakota in Columbus are military veterans. Some still fly the aircraft as part of their service in the National Guard, he added.
“Everyone on that production line takes a great amount of pride in their unbroken record of delivering on their commitments, and we hope they’ll be building Lakotas for many years to come.”
The Navy operates the Lakota in a training role at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. The Royal Thai Army is the first foreign operator of the UH-72A, having purchased six aircraft to date through the U.S. government’s foreign military sales program. U.S. Army National Guard units operating specially equipped Lakotas support Customs and border protection missions along the southwest border of the U.S.
The twin-engine UH-72A is known for its power, stability, and agility. Its glass cockpit is compatible with night vision goggles. It has the lowest cost to buy, own and operate of any U.S. military helicopter in production, Airbus said.
Opened in 2004, Airbus’ 325,000-square-foot Columbus facility also produces the AS350 B2/B3 AStar commercial helicopter.
The plant handles the assembly and customization of other Airbus Helicopters models and manufactures components for use on new-production helicopters.
In 2006-07, the Columbus facility was expanded for the UH-72A program.
Contact Clay Chandler at (601) 961-7264 or cchandler@gannett.com. Follow @claychand on Twitter.