Airbus wins US Army UH-72A Lakota upgrade contract
The US Army selected a version of the medium-sized, twin-engine H145, designated the UH-72A Lakota, in 2006 to meet requirements for a new Light Utility Helicopter. (Photo: Airbus)
The US Army has awarded Airbus a $27.8 million contract to modernise the Army National Guard Security & Support Battalion Mission Equipment Package (MEP).
These upgrades will allow the UH-72A Lakota medium-sized helicopter to conduct day and night operations by providing an advanced moving map, enhanced digital interfaces, new monitors, an airborne mission management system and other improvements.
‘This award provides pilots with significantly increased functionality and capability to carry out today’s demanding missions, further enhancing the Lakota’s value as an ISR asset for the National Guard,’ said Scott Tumpak, VP of the military line of business at Airbus US Space and Defense.
In 2006, the US Army selected a version of the medium-sized, twin-engine H145, designated the UH-72A Lakota, to meet its requirement for a new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) to replace most remaining UH-1s and OH-58A/Cs in US Army and Army National Guard service.
Related Articles
US Army orders more UH-72A Lakotas
Farnborough 2022: Morocco orders H135 for primary training missions
Heli-One partners with Airbus for UK MoD's New Medium Helicopter programme
By early 2018, the army had received more than 400 UH-72As, the majority built at the company's Columbus, Mississippi, facility. In 2014, Thailand became the first export customer.
The UH-72A is available in multiple configurations and is a key component of the US Army’s Aviation Restructuring Initiative and the primary rotary-wing trainer for the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the US Army currently has nearly 500 Lakota helicopters in its inventory.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
UH-72A Light Utility (LUH) Helicopter
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Shield AI teases new upgraded V-Bat variant]()
Shield AI teases new upgraded V-Bat variant
The as-yet-unnamed variant will be formally unveiled in April, according to Shield AI. Of the upgrades to the V-Bat, this variant reportedly has a heavier fuel engine and is SATCOM integration-capable.
-
![Israel given go ahead for $3 billion in munitions and bulldozers from US]()
Israel given go ahead for $3 billion in munitions and bulldozers from US
The latest approvals of Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deals follows approvals early in February for Israel to buy US$660 million of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and $6.7 billion for munitions, guidance kits, fuzes and munitions support.
-
![MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight]()
MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight
The US Marine Corps’ aircraft conducted the first test flight of the missile from Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
-
![First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed]()
First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed
The P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) is based on the Boeing 737NG airliner. It has been ordered by several countries, including Germany, and US Navy (USN) P-8s are being upgraded.
-
![Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal]()
Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal
Skydio has been contracted by Spain’s Ministry of Defence to supply the Skydio 10D rotary-wing UAV to the Spanish Armed Forces. The contact is likely related to the Spanish Army’s modernisation efforts which has been enshrined in the Fuerza 35 project.
