UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter deliveries to the U.S. Army National Guard begin
EADS North America’s first two UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters for the U.S. Army National Guard were formally presented to the 1-114 Security & Support Battalion, which performs homeland security, counter-drug and other operations from its base at Mississippi’s Tupelo Regional Airport. Army National Guard units will be the primary operators of UH-72As, ultimately receiving 200 of the total 345 Lakotas planned for acquisition through 2017.
The first two helicopters received by the Army National Guard were the 28th and 29th UH-72As delivered by EADS North America – all of which were provided on or ahead of schedule. Previously-delivered Lakotas have been assigned to the Army’s National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California; the Training and Doctrine Command’s flight detachment at Fort Eustis, Virginia; and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The Light Utility Helicopter contract was awarded in June 2006, followed by EADS North America’s startup of UH-72A deliveries in November of the same year. Operational service began in early 2007 at Ft. Irwin, and the Army issued full-rate production authorization for the Lakota last August.
Lakota deliveries currently are averaging three to four helicopters per month, with the capability of reaching five aircraft monthly. In addition to their assignment to Army and Army National Guard units in the continental United States, overseas basing of UH-72As are anticipated for U.S. Army units in Europe, Japan and the Pacific. The Lakota also has attracted interest from other U.S. military operators, and U.S.-approved foreign military sales also are a possibility.
The UH-72A is based on the EADS group’s Eurocopter EC145 multi-role civilian helicopter, which is in service worldwide for transport, medical evacuation, off-shore, law enforcement and other missions.
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