EADS Steps Up Production of UH-72A Lakota LUH

(Source: EADS North America; issued May 9, 2007)

ARLINGTON, Va. & ATLANTA --- Deliveries of the U.S. Army's newest rotary-wing aircraft are continuing ahead of schedule as EADS North America plans to increase production output of the twin-engine UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter.

Six UH-72As have been received by the Army to date, with the no. 6 helicopter displayed this week at the Army Aviation Association of America's annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

The delivery rate will be ramping up to two Light Utility Helicopters per month in September, meeting EADS North America's production target for the current program phase. At full-rate production, the company plans to build five UH-72As per month.

"EADS North America continues to meet its commitments on this highly important contract, and we have mobilized our company's full resources to ensure that the Army receives high-quality, mission-ready aircraft," said David R. Oliver, Jr., the President and CEO of EADS North America Defense.

UH-72As delivered to date are assigned to the U.S. Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, with more than 550 flight hours logged so far by the Lakota fleet.

The Army has a requirement for up to 322 UH-72As in a 10 year program with a total life-cycle value of over $2 billion. These helicopters will be operated primarily within the U.S. for homeland security operations, medical evacuation, passenger/logistics transportation and drug interdiction missions. Many of them will be assigned to Army National Guard units in locations throughout the country, allowing older-generation helicopters to be retired and freeing up larger rotary-wing aircraft for assignment to other duties - including deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assembly and production of the UH-72A is performed at the Columbus, Mississippi facility of American Eurocopter, a business unit of EADS North America. American Eurocopter is in the process of enlarging this site - located at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport - to accommodate the Light Utility Helicopter's production and deliveries. This expansion is on schedule for completion this September, and includes new buildings for the Lakota's assembly hall, flight line and storage area, paint shop, warehouse, administrative offices, flight operations and flight test engineering.

Army Tests Latest Chinook, Lakota Helicopters

(Source: US Army; issued May 25, 2007)

FORT HOOD, Texas --- Two teams from the Army Operational Test Command here traveled to Fort Campbell, Ky., and Barstow, Calif., to test two new helicopters.

At Fort Campbell, a test team of Soldiers, Army Civilians and Contractors linked up with local Army pilots to perform more than 60 hours of flight tests on the Army's CH-47F Chinook, a cargo helicopter recognizable by its long fuselage and twin tandem rotors.

"It was like giving a kid a computer for the first time," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom Miskowiec, Company B, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. He said the upgrade in the cockpit from an analog to digital, multifunctional display computer with tactical Internet capability has changed almost everything with regard to how chopper pilots see their world.

The new onboard equipment with digital maps and imagery coordinates with a tracking system on the ground, according to Chief Miskowiec, who flew the older model CH-47D Chinook in Iraq in 2005. "You can literally look at a satellite photo of where you are over the ground, and where you need to go in relation to the flight plan," he said.

After performing engine maintenance, Chief Warrant Officer Miskowiec took the Chinook on a test flight in preparation for the mission later in the evening - transporting a Humvee while using night-vision goggles.

Following the flight, Chief Warrant Officer Miskowiec said the crew inside the new Chinook has more situational awareness than ever before. "The crew can determine from the display units the positions of other players on the battlefield, including ground forces, air elements, geography and other structures," he said.

He also emphasized that while the Chinook is all about moving external or internal loads and mass casualties, as well as conducting combat assaults, in the end every mission is about people.

As the Chinook was being put to the test, at Barstow in the Mohave Desert, another OTC team rehearsed in advance of its test mission on the Army's latest newest Huey, the UH-72A Lakota, a light utility helicopter.

The Army's acquisition of this new version Lakota could free up the UH-60 Blackhawk for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The intent is for the Lakota to aid in homeland security, disaster relief and law enforcement support, including counter drug operations.

Capable of carrying six passengers or two medical litters side-by-side, the Lakota is equipped with a side-mounted hoist apparatus and has the ability to maintain a stabilized hover. Its use will be mostly for medical evacuation and other transport missions.

"This is a fantastic helicopter compared to what I'm used to flying, that 35 year old legacy from Vietnam, the OH 58-A-C," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Chaiko, a New Jersey Army National Guard instructor pilot. "I'm doing things I've never done before because I didn't have the capabilities that a hoist and sling offer. The helicopter I've been flying for the last 12 years could barely lift off with three people aboard."

After flying a test mission, Chief Chaiko said he was impressed with the new technology and responsiveness of the Lakota. "The unique rotor system provides directional control," he explained. "It flies better than the pilot in a lot of cases."

-ends-

US Army Fields First UH-72-Equipped Unit

(Source: EADS North America; issued June 19, 2007)

LE BOURGET, France & ARLINGTON, Va. --- The U.S. Army has equipped its first operational unit with EADS North America's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter in one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the service's history.

This milestone was reached when the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment received its sixth Lakota, which occurred less than 11 months after contract award in June 2006. The National Training Center is located at Ft. Irwin, California.

"Achieving this key program milestone so rapidly reflects the success of our partnership with the Army, the quality of the UH-72A and our focus on program performance - all essential elements in meeting EADS' commitment to our men and women in uniform," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America's Chairman and CEO.

The milestone followed Full Material Release (FMR) authorization from the Army's Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), confirming that the UH-72A and its production system are ready to support the Light Utility Helicopter mission. According to Army program officials, FMR was granted at the initial request - a first in AMCOM history for an Army aviation system.

"This is a landmark event for Army Aviation because we are getting a much needed aircraft to the field in record time," said Keith Roberson, deputy manager for the Army's utility helicopter program at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, in earlier public comments to the media.

EADS North America has supplied seven UH-72As to the Army at the rate of one aircraft per month. In September, deliveries will increase to two per month, ultimately reaching five per month in 2009.

The UH-72A is supplied by EADS North America's American Eurocopter business unit at Columbus, Mississippi. Currently, seven additional UH-72As are in various stages of preparation and customization at the Columbus facility, which is situated adjacent to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

A major expansion of American Eurocopter's Columbus plant is ahead of schedule for completion in September, and includes new buildings for the Lakota's assembly hall, flight line and storage area, paint shop, warehouse, administrative offices, flight operations and flight test engineering.

The Army has a requirement for up to 322 UH-72As in a 10-year program with a total life-cycle value of over $2 billion. To date, the Army has ordered a total of 42 UH-72As from EADS North America, along with the associated training services for pilots and maintenance personnel, external hoist kits, and MEDEVAC "B-kits."

UH-72As will be used primarily within the U.S. for homeland security operations, medical evacuation, passenger/logistics transportation and drug interdiction missions. Many of them will be assigned to Army National Guard units in locations throughout the country, allowing older-generation helicopters to be retired and freeing up larger rotary-wing aircraft for assignment to other duties - including deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Delivery of Initial UH-72A Helicopters Completed

(Source: EADS North America; issued July 23, 2007)

ARLINGTON, Va. --- EADS North America has delivered its eighth UH-72A Lakota to the U.S. Army, completing the initial phase of a multi-billion dollar contract awarded the company last year for up to 322 Light Utility Helicopters.

As with the initial six UH-72As, the two newest Lakotas were delivered ahead of schedule - underscoring EADS North America's commitment to this important Army acquisition program.

These two UH-72As are the first configured for VIP transportation duties, and are equipped with removable seats that also enable their use in general support and airlift/logistic missions. The aircraft departed from the Columbus, Mississippi facility of EADS North America's American Eurocopter business unit and were flown to Ft. Eustis in Virginia's Hampton Roads region.

The six previously-delivered Lakotas have been assigned to the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California, which, in May became the first U.S. Army unit equipped with the UH-72A. They are outfitted for MEDEVAC missions, and carry an externally-mounted rescue hoist.

"The UH-72A is a priority program for EADS North America, and we are proud to have met our commitment for on-time deliveries of this newest member of the U.S. Army's rotary-wing fleet," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America's Chairman and CEO. "All eight Lakotas covered by the Army's first order were delivered in less than one year from the contract award - which is one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the service's history."

EADS North America will now begin delivering 34 UH-72As ordered by contract option exercised in October 2006.

I WANT ONE, I WANT ONE, I WANT ONE!!!!!!

American Eurocopter Receives FAA Production Authority for U.S. Army UH-72A Lakota and EC145 Commercial Helicopters

EADS North America Delivers first U.S.-Made Lakota
Arlington, Virginia; Columbus, Mississippi, August 29, 2007 – The American Eurocopter business unit of EADS North America has been granted production authorization for UH-72A and EC145 helicopters, enabling these rotary-wing aircraft to be U.S.-made for military and civilian customers.

EADS North America is supplying the UH-72A Lakota as the U.S. Army’s new Light Utility Helicopter, while its civilian EC145 version has become the rotary-wing aircraft of choice for a growing number of medical airlift, law enforcement and corporate customers.

Production authorization for these helicopters was recently granted by the Federal Aviation Administration, enabling deliveries of U.S.-made UH-72As to begin for operational Army units. The first such aircraft is Lakota no. 10, which was delivered on August 27, 2007, from American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility.

“With this milestone, EADS North America is meeting its commitment of bringing UH-72A production to the United States – creating high-value jobs in America, and ensuring that a very capable helicopter is being delivered from an American manufacturer for the U.S. Army and other customers,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman & CEO.

The Army has a requirement for up to 322 UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters in a 10-year program with a total life-cycle value of over $2 billion. This contract expands American Eurocopter’s 20-year heritage as a supplier to U.S. homeland security and law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI, and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies.

“Adding the UH-72A/EC145 to our production certificate is another important step in developing American Eurocopter’s capabilities for operators in the U.S. marketplace,” explained American Eurocopter President & CEO Marc Paganini. “We received the FAA production certificate in 2005 for the AS350 B2 and B3 helicopters, which are also being built as U.S.-made aircraft at Columbus for the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, law enforcement agencies and other users across the country.”

To accommodate its UH-72A industrial activity, the Columbus factory is expanding to a total covered area of 325,000 sq. ft, and its workforce is growing to approximately 330 employees. The construction of two large new buildings is being completed, creating additional area for the Lakota’s assembly hall, flight line, paint shop, warehouse, administrative offices, flight operations and flight test engineering.

The Columbus site is located adjacent to Golden Triangle Regional Airport, and was inaugurated in 2004. It began operations with a staff of 44 persons and initial 92,000-sq. feet of facilities for helicopter assembly, parts manufacturing and administrative offices.

EADS’ production of the UH-72A/EC145 originated at Eurocopter’s Donauworth, Germany plant, with aircraft for the U.S. market delivered as kits to Mississippi, for reassembly. American Eurocopter is now able to phase in the manufacturing, build-up, flight test and certification of UH-72As/EC145s at Columbus and deliver these helicopters to U.S. customers with full U.S. certification.

UH-72As have been operational with the U.S. Army since earlier this year. The initial Lakotas are assigned to the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California, and the Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

The Army’s Light Utility Helicopter fleet will be used primarily within the U.S. for homeland security operations, medical evacuation, passenger/logistics transportation and drug interdiction missions. Many of them will be provided to Army National Guard units in locations throughout the country, allowing older-generation helicopters to be retired and freeing up larger rotary-wing aircraft for assignment to other duties.

Still want one.....

Arlington, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama, September 4, 2007 – The U.S. Army has approved full-rate production of EADS North America’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, clearing the way for continued acquisition of the program’s total requirement of 322 aircraft.

This milestone was achieved on August 23, 2007, following an Army review of program management, production, manpower, logistics and other aspects of the UH-72A program – validating EADS North America’s capability to meet the service’s delivery, quality and support requirements.

“Full-rate production approval underscores our ability to transition production, manufacture, deliver and support the UH-72A throughout the entire operational service of this vital U.S. Army aviation program,” said EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. “It is a validation of the efforts and expertise of the entire UH-72A program team, ensuring that we meet – or exceed – the Army’s requirements for its newest helicopter in operational service.”

The Army has ordered 42 UH-72As to date, which was the maximum amount authorized under low-rate production authority. EADS North America was awarded the Light Utility Helicopter program contract in June 2006 and to date, the company has delivered 10 UH-72As, all of which have been delivered ahead of schedule.

Since the first delivery in November 2006, EADS North America has provided UH-72As to the Army at the rate of one aircraft per month. This will increase to two per month in September, ultimately reaching as many as five per month in 2009.

UH-72As will be used primarily within the United States for homeland security operations, medical evacuation, passenger/logistics transportation and drug interdiction missions. A significant percentage of the UH-72As will be delivered directly to Army National Guard units throughout the country, allowing older-generation helicopters to be retired and freeing up larger rotary-wing aircraft for assignment to other duties – including deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Total life-cycle value of the UH-72A program is over $2 billion, with the helicopters being supplied to the Army over a 10-year period.

The first U.S. Army unit equipped with UH-72As was National Training Center’s Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California, which operates the aircraft in a MEDEVAC configuration with external hoist. These six Lakotas were fielded to Ft. Irwin less than 11 months after contract award, marking one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. Since then, UH-72As also have been delivered to Ft. Eustis/Ft. Monroe in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region, in a VIP transportation, general support and airlift/logistic configuration.

The UH-72A is delivered at EADS North America’s American Eurocopter business unit at Columbus, Mississippi, where a major facility expansion to accommodate a higher rate production of the UH-72A is nearing completion. The new facilities will house the Lakota’s assembly hall, flight line and storage area, paint shop, warehouse, administrative offices, flight operations and flight test engineering

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Rotorcraft Report: U.S. LUH Builds Advance; Congress Approves Budget
MILITARY/UTILITY

The U.S. Army has approved full-rate production for 322 Eurocopter UH-72A Lakotas, the light utility helicopter designated to replace the Boeing UH-60 Black Hawk in stateside Army active as well as reserve and national guard units. The $2.5 billion contract was awarded in June 2006.

For Fiscal 2008, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives approved $230.5 million in funding for the aircraft.

The Mississippi National Guard will be the first Guard unit to field the UH-72A. The aircraft will first be assigned to the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Service Support, based in Tupelo. It is a part of the 185th Theater Aviation Brigade. The unit now flies the Bell Helicopter OH-58D in support of reconnaissance, counterdrug, homeland defense, disaster relief, medical evacuations, and search and rescue missions.. Those helicopters will be given to the state of Tennessee, according to the Mississippi Guard. The OH-58D carries two tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile, one on each side. The Lakota is not armed..

American Eurocopter manufactures the Lakota in Columbus, Miss.

The first four Lakotas are to be delivered to the Mississippi Guard in May, with the remaining four by 2010. Soldiers in the 1/114th will be trained to fly the helicopter at American Eurocopter in Grand Prairie, Texas. The only unit flying the Lakota now is the Army’s National Training Center’s Air Ambulance Detachment at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.

National Guard Gets First Lakota Helicopters

US Army | Jun 10, 2008
LINK

WASHINGTON: The National Guard received its first two UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters last week, marked by a ceremony Saturday in Tupelo, Miss.

The 1/114th Service Battalion in Tupelo showcased its two Lakota helicopters Saturday to a crowd of Soldiers, Civilians and city officials. Brig. Gen. Bill Freeman, adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard, helped unveil the new aircraft.

The Lakota is a commercial aircraft built for the military with slight modifications to conduct general support tasks in non-combat environments such as civil search and rescue, evacuation, counter-drug and limited civil command and control operations through Homeland Security.

Since the Army took delivery of its first UH-72A Lakota in November 2006, its builder, EADS North America, has delivered a total of 25 helicopters. The Lakotas have been fielded to the National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Fort Irwin, Calif., to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., and to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Flight Detachment at Fort Eustis, Va. The Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Ala., also has Lakotas, and the Eastern Army Aviation Training Site at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., received one last week.


UH-72A Lakota lght utility helicopters land in Tupelo, Miss. They are the first two Lakotas fielded to the Army National Guard.

Plans are to field a total of 345 Lakota helicopters by 2017, and Product Manager Lt. Col. Jim Brashear said 60 of those are already under contract. He said 10 more Lakota Helicopters should be fielded to NTC next month. Detachment C, 1-114th Aviation of the Louisiana National Guard should also receive the Lakota next month, he said. Next will be the Florida National Guard in Jacksonville, Fla. Then two are scheduled to be fielded to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in October.

A number of modifications have recently been approved for the Lakota. A medevac kit will allow Soldiers to mount medical gear on the wall of the Lakota instead of storing it in a canvas bag on the floor of the helicopter. The medevac kit was something that was used on the civilian version of the Lakota air ambulance and Brashear said Soldiers feel the kit provides easier access to life-saving equipment.

Another modification tested last week at Fort Irwin, Calif., was the Engineer Inlet Barrier Filter. This filter keeps dust and other particles from entering the turbine engines and causing damage.

"We took the aircraft out to NTC and flew it in the dirt," Brashear said, adding that the filter performed even better than expected.

When I was at JRTC last month, I saw a couple of these things flying treetop level (and sometimes lower) throughout the month. These are very nice looking machines-- I wouldn't mind flying one of these if I were rated...

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

EADS to Equip UH-72A Lakota for Security, Support Missions

(Source: EADS North America; issued June 11, 2009)

ARLINGTON, VA and GRAND PRAIRIE, TX --- EADS North America and its subsidiary, American Eurocopter, have selected the industry team that will provide components and sub-systems for the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter Security and Support (S&S) mission equipment package (MEP).

The UH-72A in the S&S configuration will provide Army National Guard units the flexibility to respond to a wide variety of Homeland Security, Homeland Defense and civil law enforcement support missions. The mission equipment package consists of an electro-optical infrared sensor, data communications suite, moving map display, cabin and cockpit screens, a digital video recorder and a searchlight.

Companies selected to provide key components and sub-systems for the S&S mission equipment package are:

-- LCX Systems; Sarasota, Fla.
-- Sierra Nevada Corporation; Sparks, Nev.
-- Ranger Rotorcraft Group; Fort Worth, Texas
-- MARK IV Luminator; Plano, Texas
-- L-3 Communications; New York, N.Y.

The Army plans to equip 200 National Guard Lakota's with the S&S mission equipment package.

"This is a significant step for the Lakota industry team as we continue to meet the evolving operational requirements of the UH-72A and our Army customer," said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America chairman and CEO. "The addition of these five experienced aerospace companies further strengthens our proven industry team that is delivering helicopters to the Army on schedule and on budget."

To date, 128 Lakotas have been ordered by the Army, with the military service planning to acquire a total of 345 UH-72As through 2016. In addition, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md. Currently EADS North America has delivered 69 UH-72A Lakotas, all on or ahead of schedule.

The UH-72A is based on Eurocopter's proven EC145 multi-role helicopter. As part of EADS North America's expansion of its U.S. industrial presence, a new, purpose-built Lakota production facility operated by American Eurocopter in Columbus, Miss. has become the focal point of the corporation's LUH production and configuration efforts.

Additionally, American Eurocopter has expanded its pilot and maintainer training capabilities and systems engineering staff in Grand Prairie, Texas to meet the growing needs of the Army and its LUH program. These two facilities generate high-value jobs in the United States, and the Columbus facility has met its goal of creating new job opportunities in the region, with total employment planned to surpass 250 as the UH-72A program reaches its full production and final assembly capability.

The UH-72A Lakota fleet has an operational availability rate higher than 90 percent, underscoring the readiness of these rotary-wing aircraft to perform their varied assignments. The Lakota fleet is supported through a combination of performance-based logistics using full contractor logistics support (CLS) and a hybrid CLS concept with the Army National Guard aircraft.

UH-72As are used in operations across the country that include MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) and evacuation missions, general and multi-role support missions, VIP transport and paradrop operations. Lakotas also participated in disaster relief and coordination missions for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in the southern U.S. last September.

Current basing and operating locations for the UH-72A fleet include the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Fort Eustis and Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Polk and Pineville, La.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Morrisville, N.C.; Tupelo, Miss.; Burlington, Vt.; Austin, Texas; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and this month, the Arkansas National Guard.

Lakotas carry six passengers and a crew of two pilots in the standard configuration, while two litters and seats for two support personnel are available in the MEDEVAC configuration. The UH-72A also has been certified by the U.S. Army for the free-fall deployment of paratroopers, using the rotary-wing aircraft's large side-fuselage sliding doors. S&S-configured Lakotas will be employed in Army National Guard Reconnaissance and Interdiction detachment (RAID) missions.

In addition to their U.S. Army basing in the continental United States, overseas deployments of UH-72As are anticipated in Europe and Japan. The Lakota's phase-in enables aging National Guard OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while Lakota deliveries to the active component of the Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to warfighting missions.

I'll be flying the 72 on s&s missions once I'm trained on it. I'm hearing great things about them from the guys who are already flying them, and I'm really looking forward to getting in one myself.

Incidentally, I was just doing some reading on the weaponized version of the Lakota, the Armed Scout 645 (**http://www.armedscout.com/index/index.asp) and it looks very promising.

SNC to Supply Video for UH-72 Lakota

(Source: Sierra Nevada Corporation; issued June 29, 2009)

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) CEO Fatih Ozmen announced today that SNC has received a competitive contract award from American Eurocopter, a business unit of EADS North America, to produce over 200 of the TactiLink Eagle video point-to-point data communications systems used in support of Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR).

The TactiLink Eagle has both an airborne and ground component of the UH-72A Lakota helicopter. It is designed to meet U.S. Army and Army National Guard requirements for highly capable, multi-role helicopter missions that range from homeland security and medical evacuation to drug interdiction, support, and logistics operations.

The Army expects to acquire the TactiLink Eagles, associated aircraft equipment, and logistics support from SNC as the sub-contractor to American Eurocopter for integration and installation of these systems. SNC Tactical Communications unit in Fayetteville, NC, will produce, support, and field the systems for American Eurocopter.