U.S. Army awards Airbus Helicopters $115.4 mln contract for up to 12 more UH-72B Lakota helicopters

Published Aug 15, 10:18 AM UTC

The U.S. Army has awarded Airbus Helicopters Inc. a $115.4 million contract to produce up to 12 additional UH-72B Lakota helicopters, as announced by the Department of War on August 14. The contract, which covers the MBB-BK 117 D3 variant with specialized equipment, was solicited online and received only one bid. Initial funding comes from fiscal 2024 and 2025 Army aircraft procurement budgets, with work expected to be completed by December 31, 2030, at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The Lakota program, initiated in 2006, has produced over 463 aircraft for the Army, Army National Guard, and Navy. The UH-72B variant, introduced in 2020, features a five-blade main rotor, Fenestron tail rotor, and Helionix avionics. The fleet primarily serves training, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and border security missions, accumulating over 1.6 million flight hours.