The Navy awarded Leonardo’s AgustaWestland a $159 million modification on Dec. 17 to produce and deliver 36 additional TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training Systems.

The Navy first

awarded the company an initial $176 million contract to produce 32 TH-73As last January. The company won the competition with its TH-110 helicopter, derived from the Leonardo AgustaWestland AW109 Trekker (Defense Daily, Jan. 13).

This latest award covers aircraft in Lot III and initial spares. Work will occur in Philadelphia (85 percent); Mineral Wells, Texas (five percent); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (10 percent) and is expected to be finished by December 2023. 

The full award amount was obligated at the time of award in fiscal year 2022 Navy aircraft procurement funds.

The Navy’s fiscal year 2022 budget request sought $163 million to procure 36 additional TH-73As (Defense Daily, June 1).

The Navy is procuring the TH-73As to replace the aging fleet of TH-57 Sea Rangers to train all Navy. Marine Corps and Coast Guard rotorcraft pilots. The new trainers will operate out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Fla. 

Leonardo delivered the first new TH-73A in a ceremony last June (Defense Daily, June 10).