New UH-72A Lakota S&S MEP Aircraft showcased

The Product Office for the Army's Light Utility Helicopter, the UH-72A Lakota showcased its latest version of the prototype aircraft Nov. 16 at the Sparkman helipad on Redstone Arsenal. The aircraft was first showcased at Fort Rucker Nov. 15 and at the Pentagon Nov. 18.

"We wanted to introduce the modified UH-72A and its new capabilities to Army leadership to make them aware of the aircraft's ability to meet the Army National Guard requirements," said Lt. Col. Dave Bristol, product manager for Lakota helicopters.

"The MEP significantly improves the UH-72A capabilities for conducting the Security & Support (S&S) mission," added Bristol. The aircraft provides long range electro-optical sensors and the ability to record and down link data, which will aid the ARNG in its Homeland Security, Counter Drug, and Border Patrol missions.

"This aircraft is unique in that it is primarily a commercial-of-the-shelf product," said Col. Neil Thurgood, Project Manager for Utility Helicopters on Redstone Arsenal. "This is a success story of the joint efforts with the National Guard and the project office in creating a package that is exactly what they'd like it to become, and it meets all the requirements."

The Lakota is an example of rapid acquisition of a new system that is commercial/non-developmental item due to flexibility in requirements and the willingness of the Army leadership and staff to think outside-the-box.

"The S&S MEP required that all of the component parts be commercially available," said Bristol. "The program has been successful due to the hard work of the National Guard Bureau, PEO (Aviation), EADS North America, American Eurocopter and other contractors."

Included in the kit is a turreted L-3 Wescam MX-15i electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor and laser pointer; EuroAvionics EuroNav V RN6 moving map system and two SkyQuest eight-inch, touch-screen displays; a video management system, SkyQuest VRDV-4010 digital video recorder (DVR) and data downlink system; plus additional avionics and Sierra Nevada Tactilink Eagle data communications equipment. The helicopter is also equipped with a 30-million-candlepower Luminator LS16 searchlight that is mounted on the aft starboard step and slaved to the MX-15, and the same Goodrich 44301 series rescue hoist that is included in the Lakota's medevac MEP.

The Lakota has progressed on schedule and within budget constraints and has been well received by Army aircrews, said Thurgood. "The product office's success is a testament to our determination to support homeland security missions and to the warfighter." The program began in 2008 with a plan to equip the first unit in the summer of 2011.

Ninety-nine aircraft will receive the S&S MEP. The first retrofit will be completed in May 2011; that aircraft will be fielded in June 2011. "As of now the first unit to receive the UH-72A is based at Tupelo, Mississippi," said Bristol.

The rapid acquisition, production and fielding of the UH-72A Lakota aircraft over the last three and a half years has allowed the Army to transfer twenty-four UH-60 Black Hawk aircraft to other missions that support overseas contingency operations. It has allowed the retirement of aging UH-1 and OH-58A/C by replacing them with modern, capable aircraft.

The US Army plans to acquire 345 Lakotas through 2016, and the service has ordered 202 of the helicopters so far, along with five H-72A versions for the US Navy. Over 25,000 flight hours have been logged to date at an operational readiness rate of more than 90 percent. .

UH-72A Lakota serial 09-72099 S&S MEP conducted its first flight test at the American Eurocopter's Columbus, Miss. facility on June 16.

Source: US Army

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