Jay Clemens
Airbus Group has transported a version of the Lakota helicopter configured for training mission to the U.S. Army.
Airbus Helicopters Inc. built and delivered the UH-72A Lakota helicopter and the Army plans to order an additional rotary wing training fleet of 187 Lakotas from the company, Airbus said Thursday.
The planned order will consist of new deliveries and in-service aircraft reconfigured for the training mission.
Allan McArtor, Airbus Group chairman and CEO, noted that the Army has managed the program on cost and on schedule since awarding the contract in 2006.
The UH-72A model complements seven other Lakota training helicopters the Army fielded to Fort Rucker in preparation for the start of a training curriculum in fiscal year 2016.
Lakota is designed for various operations such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, border security, command and control, general utility and training.
