By Ann Roosevelt
COLUMBUS, Miss.–The Army received the keys and logbook to the100th UH-72A Lakota light-utility helicopter from EADS North America in ceremonies here last week.
Behind the stage, four Lakotas and an American flag provided the backdrop for the speakers. The 100th helicopter as well as two others painted in the camouflage colors of an Opposing Force unit will be delivered to Germany to support units there. A third, bright orange, helicopter will head to Kwajalein Atoll in the Central Pacific to support test operations.
As part of Army aviation modernization, the multi mission-helicopter allows the service to retire older Bell Helicopter Textron‘s[TXT] Kiowa Warriors and UH-1 Huey helicopters, and free up Sikorsky [UTX] UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters needed to support warfighting missions.
The Army is currently considering other equipment packages for the Lakota to include weapons. “Standby” on that, EADS N.A. CEO Sean O’Keefe told reporters earlier in the day. The Lakota has also been proposed as the armed scout platform to replace the terminated BellARH program.
The 100th helicopter entered production Oct. 12. . The FAA-certified aircraft have been in production since 2006.
At the ceremonies, O’Keefe said, “All were delivered on time and on budget. We’re extremely proud of that.”
Army Program Executive Officer Aviation Brig. Gen. William Crosby recognized the people and the team in Mississippi for producing the helicopter. Every day the LUH “saves a life or mitigates misery.” Also, the helicopter has a “near zero” mishap rate.
The Lakota has flown more than 25,000 miles with an operational readiness rate of more than 90 percent.
Essentially, the program is “a success to the first order,” Crosby said.
Because the helicopter has acquitted itself well, other countries–including Iraq–are interested in it. To date there have been no Foreign Military Sales.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (R) lauded the team and, knowing the Army plans to buy 345 aircraft, turned to Crosby, said: “Why stop at 345, right, General?”
Barbour, a strong backer of economic development and supporter of the EADS N.A. efforts in the state, said, “I see this facility growing by leaps and bounds in the coming year.” And, he expects more growth of EADS elsewhere in the state.
O’Keefe said earlier that the state was “business friendly.”
“We support the mission of the LUH,” said Barth Chief Eagle Robinson representing the Rosebud tribe of the Lakota Sioux nation, as he presented officials with symbolic frame showing pictures of a helicopter and soldiers, and a reproduction of a Frederick Remington painting, showing a wounded soldier being picked up by his cavalry friends.
Puerto Rican National Guard LUH have been deployed to the Dominican Republic, where they are operating in support of relief efforts in the wake of the Jan.12 earthquake.
Col. Neil Thurgood, Army Utility Helicopter Project Manager, said the helicopters are performing exactly the work they were meant to do in a “permissive non-combat environment supporting those people who need help.”
The Army has ordered 182 UH-72A Lakotas, and five more have been delivered to the Navy for test pilot training.
In December, EADS N.A. was awarded a five-year $247 million contract for LUH for fiscal year 2010 production to be delivered through mid-2011 (Defense Daily, Dec. 11).