The D.C. National Guard unveiled its new UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter Friday in Washington.
The guard is officially receiving three of a total of eight of the EADS North America-made helicopters, the first guard unit in the nation to receive the helicopters in the medical evacuation configuration.
The new helicopters replace UH-1 Hueys, the Vietnam war era helicopters flown now by the 121st Medical Co. (Air Ambulance) at Davison Army Airfield, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
“We are proud and excited to receive this awesome new aircraft,” Maj. Gen. Errol Schwartz, commanding general of the DC National Guard, says. “It enables us to do the missions that we need to be relevant in the 21st century.”
The Army began fielding the UH-72 to National Guard and active-duty units last year. The D.C. Guard will receive three more helicopters next month and two more fielded in 2012 to the D.C. Guard’s 1-224th Security and Support Detachment also based at Davison. The 1-224th currently flies the OH-58..