Airbus delivers first UH-72B Lakota helicopter to the U.S. Army National Guard
Columbus,
Mississippi, 07 September 2021 – Airbus Helicopters, Inc. has
delivered the first UH-72B, the latest variant of its Lakota helicopter, to the
U.S. Army National Guard from its production facility in Columbus, Mississippi.
This delivery is the first of 18 UH-72B Lakota helicopters currently on order
to support the National Guard’s critical missions.
“With the
addition of the UH-72B Lakota to our fleet, the U.S. Army increases our
capability to save lives, protect communities, and provide disaster relief when
it’s needed most,” said Col. Calvin Lane, U.S. Army Project Manager
for Utility Helicopters. “The Lakota helicopter has been a staple of the Army
for more than 15 years now, and we look forward to benefitting from the latest
technologies and performances that the newest 72B variant will provide, at no
additional research & development costs for the Army.”
The UH-72B
is the latest iteration of the proven commercial, off-the-shelf aircraft that
has been the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter since the first Lakota contract
award in 2006. The Army is leveraging the benefits of a commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) program by receiving product improvements and enhancements
through the evolution of the aircraft, without investing any government money
into the development of those capabilities.
Based on the widely successful H145, the UH-72B incorporates
technologies that increase both safety and flight performance, including the
five-bladed main rotor, the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, Safran Arriel 2E
engines, and the Airbus-designed Helionix avionics suite. The Helionix suite
includes an advanced dual-duplex, four-axis autopilot to provide flight
envelope and over-limit protection, automated takeoff, and fully-coupled
approaches to hover.
“Our teams
in Mississippi, many of whom are U.S. Army and National Guard veterans
themselves, are proud to build and deliver the first of this newest Lakota
variant in support of the Army’s essential missions protecting and serving our
country,” said Scott Tumpak, vice president responsible for Airbus military
helicopter programs in the U.S. “We thank the Army for the trust they’ve placed
in Airbus for more than 15 years and counting, as we continue to build on the
Lakota legacy for the women and men in uniform that depend on it.”
With nearly
10 different configurations available, the Lakota delivers proven
performance, outstanding operational reliability, and unmatched versatility for
a broad spectrum of military missions. Airbus Helicopters, Inc. builds the
Lakota at its production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, which employs a
workforce of nearly 250 employees that is made up of 40% U.S. veterans.
Photo courtesy Airbus Helicopters © Dianne Bond