A contract valued at approximately $116 million to deliver 16 additional UH-72A Lakotas for the United States Army has been received by a leading aeronautics, space, and related services provider, the company’s second request this year to supply the U.S. Army’s Lakota program.
Airbus Helicopters Inc announces the new contract includes the UH-72A production aircraft, associated technical and flight operator manuals and program management in training configuration for the Initial Entry Rotary Wing mission at Ft. Rucker. The UH-72A is a twin-engine utility helicopter used for a wide range of military operations including troop and light cargo transport, MEDEVAC, VIP transport, border security, and Homeland Defense.
“We are proud of our partnership with the U.S. Army. As the world’s best Helicopter Trainer provider, we recognize how important an asset the Lakota is for Army Aviation and our nation. Our employees at Airbus are committed to delivering every aircraft on-cost and on-schedule, without exception,” said Chris Emerson, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and head of the North America Region. “Our mission of providing this vital national asset is crucial to the protection of our country and the closure of the pilot shortage gap.”
The Lakota is a key component of the Army’s Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI) and the primary rotary-wing trainer for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala. The UH 72A Lakota is fielded in and out of the Continental United States in several different configurations, performing a number of essential missions for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the National Guard.
