EADS North America and its subsidiary, American Eurocopter, said they’ve selected five companies to make up the industry team providing components and subsystems for the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter Security and Support (S&S) mission equipment package (MEP).
The companies are: L-3 Communications [LLL]; LCX Systems; Sierra Nevada Corp.; Ranger Rotorcraft Group; and MARK IV Luminator.
An S&S configured UH-72A provides Army National Guard (ANG) units the flexibility to respond to a wide variety of homeland security, homeland defense and civil law enforcement support missions. Additionally, S&S-configured Lakotas will be employed in ANG reconnaissance and interdiction detachment (RAID) 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.
The Army plans to equip 200 National Guard Lakotas 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,” Ralph Crosby, EADS North America chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “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.
The Army has ordered 128 Lakotas so far, with a plan to acquire 345 UH-72As through 2016.
Additionally, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md.
EADS North America has delivered 69 UH-72A Lakotas, all on or ahead of schedule.
The UH-72A Lakota fleet has an operational availability rate higher than 90 percent.
UH-72A is based on Eurocopter’s EC145 multi-role helicopter.
As part of EADS North America’s expansion of its U.S. industrial presence, a new 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 growing needs.
The Lakota carries 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 medical evacuation configuration.
The Army also certified the UH-72A for the free-fall deployment of paratroopers, using the rotary-wing aircraft’s large side-fuselage sliding doors.
In addition to their U.S. Army basing in the 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 Army frees UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to warfighting missions.