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LUH award speeds US Army fleet modernisation
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| 06 July 2006 |
LUH award speeds US Army fleet modernisation
By Nathan Hodge
With the recent award of a utility helicopter contract to EADS North America, the final pieces of a sweeping modernisation of US Army aviation are coming together.
The service selected, on June 30, the EADS twin-engine UH-145 for its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) programme.
The army plans to buy 322 aircraft in a procurement with a potential value of USD3 billion. In addition, the army is considering an additional order of 30 helicopters beyond its stated requirement for 322 aircraft.
The service launched the programme with a USD 43.1 million contract for initial deliveries of the new helicopter, which will be designated the UH-72A. First aircraft are to be delivered in November.
The helicopter is designed to take on a range of missions, from general support and medical evacuation (medevac) to personnel recovery and counter-narcotics operations.
The new helicopters will replace UH-1 Hueys, UH-60A medevac helicopters as well as some US Army National Guard OH-58 Kiowa Warriors. The UH-72A will be employed largely in domestic and humanitarian missions, freeing up combat aircraft for overseas deployments.
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