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Product Type: |
Light Utility Helicopter |
Using Service (US): |
Army |
Program Status: |
In Production |
Prime Contractor: |
EADS North America - American Eurocopter |
The Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is a twin-engine U.S. Army multi-role utility helicopter.
The Lakota is the military version of the Eurocopter EC145, which is used worldwide for law enforcement,
emergency medical transportation, search & rescue, offshore operations, and as corporate transport.
The UH-72 will provide reliable and sustainable general and administrative support in permissive
environments at reduced acquisition and operating costs.
The UH-72 is powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL 1E2 turboshaft engines delivering 738 shp each.
The Lakota is one of the most versatile and functional helicopters in its weight class.
The easily reconfigurable main cabin of the Lakota maximizes mission flexibility,
while the sliding side and rear clamshell doors provide easy main cabin access and
enable effective space utilization. With a maximum takeoff weight of 7,903 pounds,
it carries a useful load of 3,953 pounds and has a maximum cruise speed of 145 knots/167 mph.
In June 2006, the U.S. Army selected the EC145 for its
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program. The Army currently has 219 UH-72As
on order with a 345 aircraft fleet planned through 2015 (potential life-cycle value of more than $2 billion).
The first Lakotas were delivered to the Army on December 11, 2006 and the first operational unit
was equipped within 11 months of the contract award, making the UH-72 one of the most rapid aircraft introductions in the history of the Army.
The UH-72 will in time replace the UH-1N Huey
and the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.
The manufacturing of the UH-72 is the responsibility of American Eurocopter, a business unit of EADS North America.
Production takes place at the company's Columbus, Mississippi facility and averages three to four helicopters per month.
Other members of the UH-72A production team include Aerolite, BAE Systems, CAE,
Goodrich Corporation, Keith Products,
L-3 Communications,
Labarge, Luminator, NORDAM Group, Sagem Avionics,
Sikorsky (United Technologies), Thales North America,
Turbomeca USA, Whelen, and Wulfsberg Electronics.
None.
The UH-72 Light Utility Helicopter will provide organic general support at corps and division levels. The primary mission for the LUH is to provide aerial transport for logistical and administrative support.
Base funding supports aircraft procurement, fielding, engineering services, training, program office support, and modifications for 39 UH-72A aircraft. There is no RDT&E funding required for this program. The LUH acquisition strategy is based on a competitive procurement of a commercial off-the-shelf, non-developmental aircraft.
FY 2013 funds in the amount of $272.0 million supports aircraft purchases, fielding, engineering services, training, program office support, and modifications for 34 UH-72A helicopters. For more information, click to view the Complete FY 2013 UH-72 DoD Budget.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Eurocopter
Last Update: July 16, 2012.
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard (www.kostergaard.com)
Eurocopter's UH-72 Site: Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota/EC145
Official UH-72 Site: Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota
YouTube: UH-72 Lakota | YouTube Videos
Fact Sheet: Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota | Fact Sheet
UH-72 U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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Primary Function: Utility helicopter |
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