Airbus Helicopters delivered the first UH-72B, the latest variant of its Lakota helicopter, to the U.S. Army National Guard. This delivery is the first of 18 UH-72B Lakota helicopters ordered to support critical National Guard missions.
«With the addition of the UH-72B Lakota to our fleet, the U.S. Army increases its ability to save lives, protect communities and provide disaster relief when it is needed most,» said Col. Calvin Lane, U.S. Army utility helicopter project manager. «The Lakota helicopter has been an Army staple for more than 15 years, and we look forward to benefiting from the latest technologies and features that the new 72B variant will provide, without additional research and development costs to the Army.»
The UH-72B is the latest iteration of the proven commercial aircraft that has been the Army’s light utility helicopter since the first Lakota contract award in 2006. The Army is taking advantage 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 in the development of those capabilities.
Based on the successful H145, the UH-72B, built at the production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, incorporates technologies that enhance both safety and flight performance, including the five-bladed main rotor, Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, Safran Arriel 2E engines and the Airbus-designed Helionix avionics suite. The Helionix suite includes an advanced four-axis duplex autopilot that provides flight envelope and boundary protection, automated takeoff and fully coupled approaches to hover.
«Our teams in Mississippi, many of whom are veterans of the U.S. Army and National Guard, are proud to build and deliver the first of this new Lakota variant in support of essential Army missions that protect and serve our country,» said Scott Tumpak, vice president responsible for Airbus military helicopter programs in the U.S. «We thank the Army for the trust it has placed in Airbus for more than 15 years and counting, as we continue to build the Lakota’s legacy for the women and men in uniform who depend on it.»
With nearly 10 different configurations available, the Lakota offers proven performance, excellent operational reliability and unmatched versatility for a broad spectrum of military missions.
