US Army awards Airbus $140M contract for 12 UH-72B Lakota helicopters

Published Aug 17, 01:56 PM UTC

On August 14, 2026, the U.S. Army awarded Airbus Helicopters Inc. a firm-fixed-price contract valued at up to $140.7 million for 12 UH-72B Lakota light utility helicopters, with an initial obligation of $115.4 million for 10 firm aircraft. The contract extends production of the upgraded five-bladed, Fenestron-equipped variant for Army National Guard operational units through 2030. Deliveries from Airbus's Columbus, Mississippi facility are scheduled between 2027 and 2029. The UH-72B features more powerful Safran Arriel 2E engines, a digital cockpit with four-axis autopilot, and enhanced high-altitude hover performance. This procurement occurs as the Army prepares to remove roughly 220 older UH-72A models from initial entry pilot training under the Flight School Next initiative. The order represents a small addition to the existing 479-aircraft Lakota inventory.