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Article on the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter - Wescam

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<strong>UH</strong>-72 UPDATERapidThe first operati<strong>on</strong>al unit to beequipped with <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> was<strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Training Center’sAir Ambulance Detachmentat Fort Irwin, California.(Photo: EADS North America)resp<strong>on</strong>seThe US Army took deliveryof its 100th <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> <strong>Lakota</strong><strong>Light</strong> <strong>Utility</strong><strong>Helicopter</strong> at <strong>the</strong> beginningof March. Scott R Gourleytakes a focussed look atthat rarest of creatures –a successful armyhelicopter programme.Created as an outgrowth of <strong>the</strong> decisi<strong>on</strong> toend <strong>the</strong> RAH-66 Comanche programmein <strong>the</strong> spring of 2004, <strong>the</strong> US Army’s <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong><strong>Lakota</strong> <strong>Light</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong> (L<strong>UH</strong>) wasfunded with m<strong>on</strong>ey originally planned andprogrammed for <strong>the</strong> Comanche.The original requirement was for 322 aircraft,but that figure has now increased to 345platforms with <strong>the</strong> majority of those – 210<strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong>s – destined for <strong>the</strong> Army Nati<strong>on</strong>alGuard (ARNG). As it is fielded, <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> isbeginning to replace <strong>UH</strong>-60 Black Hawk, <strong>UH</strong>-1Huey, and OH-58A/C Kiowa aircraft used by <strong>the</strong>ARNG and elements of <strong>the</strong> active army.The cost of supporting <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-1 andOH-58A/C aircraft had been increasing inrecent years due to parts availability and oldage. The <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> is a smaller (fuselage length10.1m/length rotor rotating 13m), less costlyaircraft that can fulfil <strong>the</strong> missi<strong>on</strong>s that <strong>the</strong>older types were c<strong>on</strong>ducting at <strong>the</strong> US Army’sCombat Training Centers (CTCs) and elsewherearound <strong>the</strong> US.Moreover, <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-60 aircraft being freedup by incoming <strong>Lakota</strong>s are now available tosupport US operati<strong>on</strong>s in Afghanistan and Iraq.Already, <strong>the</strong> rapid acquisiti<strong>on</strong>, producti<strong>on</strong> andfielding of <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> over <strong>the</strong> last three and ahalf years has allowed <strong>the</strong> army to transfer 24<strong>UH</strong>-60 aircraft to o<strong>the</strong>r missi<strong>on</strong>s that supportoverseas c<strong>on</strong>tingency operati<strong>on</strong>s.EXPRESS DELIVERYEADS North America is <strong>the</strong> prime c<strong>on</strong>tractorand overall programme lead, with AmericanEurocopter resp<strong>on</strong>sible for aircraft producti<strong>on</strong>,assembly and delivery. EADS highlights asupplier network that includes Aerolite, BAESystems, CAE, Goodrich, L-3, Labarge,Luminator, Meggitt, Nordam, Sagem, Sikorsky,Thales USA, Turbomeca USA, Whelen andWulfsberg Electr<strong>on</strong>ics.Noting that <strong>the</strong> first aircraft delivery was inNovember 2006, five m<strong>on</strong>ths after c<strong>on</strong>tractaward, US Army representatives haveemphasised that <strong>the</strong> team has been able todeliver as many as five aircraft in any <strong>on</strong>em<strong>on</strong>th and remain <strong>on</strong> schedule and within<strong>the</strong> army cost positi<strong>on</strong>.As of <strong>the</strong> end of 2009, 93 <strong>Lakota</strong> aircrafthad been fielded to ARNG units in 11 states,<strong>the</strong> District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Inadditi<strong>on</strong>, medevac and general support unitsat <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Training Center (NTC) andJoint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) havealso received <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong>s, while active armyunits at Fort Rucker, Fort Eustis and <strong>the</strong>➡www.rotorhub.com Volume 29 Number 2 | March/April 2010 | Defence <strong>Helicopter</strong> 15


<strong>UH</strong>-72 UPDATEThe arrival of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lakota</strong> is freeing up BlackHawks to be deployed in support of operati<strong>on</strong>s inIraq and Afghanistan. (Photo: US Army)US Military Academy (USMA) also operate <strong>the</strong>new aircraft.On 4 March, EADS North America held acerem<strong>on</strong>y to mark <strong>the</strong> delivery of <strong>the</strong> 100th<strong>Lakota</strong> to <strong>the</strong> army, which it trumpeted as‘ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>on</strong>-time and <strong>on</strong>-budget achievementfor a highly successful programme’. The aircraft inquesti<strong>on</strong> will be deployed to Germany with <strong>the</strong>Joint Multinati<strong>on</strong>al Readiness Center (JMRC).In additi<strong>on</strong> to army applicati<strong>on</strong>s, five <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong>aircraft were purchased by <strong>the</strong> US Navy for useat <strong>the</strong> Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS) in PatuxentRiver, Maryland, which not <strong>on</strong>ly trains navalaviators but also o<strong>the</strong>r US service pilots as wellas those from overseas allies.Programme representatives credit <strong>the</strong><strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> as being a highly capable andmanoeuvrable aircraft, able to support <strong>the</strong>requirements of NTPS testing and training.FLYING START‘I think <strong>the</strong> programme is really off to a greatstart,’ Lt Col Dave Bristol, US Army L<strong>UH</strong>product manager, told Defence <strong>Helicopter</strong>.‘We’ve currently [mid-February 2010] got97 aircraft that are actually fielded to <strong>the</strong>army and that also includes five navyaircraft. Again, <strong>the</strong> team has d<strong>on</strong>e a superjob. That includes American Eurocopter[producti<strong>on</strong>, assembly, and delivery] and<strong>the</strong> supporting role of Sikorsky <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>maintainer side.’Sikorsky Aerospace Services (<strong>the</strong> aftermarketbusiness of Sikorsky Aircraft) plays a primaryrole in providing c<strong>on</strong>tractor logistics support(CLS) for <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> team. In late August2009, it announced <strong>the</strong> delivery ofenhancements to <strong>the</strong> HELOTRAC RLmaintenance management system for <strong>the</strong><strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong>, including ‘improvements to threeprimary features requested by <strong>the</strong> US Army:safety; an operating and supportmanagement informati<strong>on</strong> system; andfleet management capabilities’.‘The five navy aircraft – and we just delivered<strong>the</strong> fifth <strong>on</strong>e a few weeks ago – were fielded to<strong>the</strong> NTPS up at Pax River where <strong>the</strong>y are usingthose for test pilot training,’ Bristol c<strong>on</strong>tinued.‘So that’s ano<strong>the</strong>r big accomplishment for<strong>the</strong> programme.’The standard L<strong>UH</strong> c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong> includes:cockpit features such as glass cockpit, widefield of view, LCD displays and three-axisautopilot; performance features such as lownoiserotor blades, twin-engined (Turbomeca16Defence <strong>Helicopter</strong> | March/April 2010 | Volume 29 Number 2www.rotorhub.com


<strong>UH</strong>-72 UPDATEThe first two <strong>Lakota</strong>s fielded by <strong>the</strong> ARNG land inTupelo, Mississippi, in 2008. (Photo: US Army)Arriel 1E2) reliability, a maximum speed of268km/h and endurance of up to 3.2 hours;capacity features such as a 500kg payload withgross weight of 3,500kg; and communicati<strong>on</strong>sfeatures such as <strong>the</strong> ARC-231 suite, interagencyVHF/<strong>UH</strong>F comms and a cabin intercom system.In additi<strong>on</strong>, missi<strong>on</strong> equipment package(MEP) kits optimise <strong>the</strong> <strong>Lakota</strong> to performspecific missi<strong>on</strong>s in support of its different roles.For example, <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> is currently beingprimarily delivered in two army c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong>s –medevac and VIP. The <strong>Lakota</strong> medevac MEPincludes two NATO standard litters, a medicalstorage kit, an external rescue hoist and anenvir<strong>on</strong>mental c<strong>on</strong>trol unit (ECU). The VIP MEPfeatures special seats, carpet and an ECU.MULTIPLE VARIANTSBey<strong>on</strong>d those two c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong>s, additi<strong>on</strong>alMEP kits are being developed to optimisethree new variants: security and support (S&S)battali<strong>on</strong> (ARNG); observer/c<strong>on</strong>troller; andopposing force (OPFOR).Designed to facilitate homeland securityoperati<strong>on</strong>s for ARNG units, <strong>the</strong> S&S battali<strong>on</strong>MEP, funded by <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guard Bureau,includes <strong>the</strong> Skyquest VRDV-4010 digitalvideo recorder, a EuroNav V RN6 movingmap and Sierra Nevada TactiLink-Eaglecommunicati<strong>on</strong>s system.Selected aircraft can also be fitted with <strong>the</strong>L-3 <strong>Wescam</strong> MX-15i EO/IR sensor, <strong>the</strong> LuminatorLS16 searchlight, which is slaved to <strong>the</strong> EO/IRsensor and provides 30 milli<strong>on</strong> candlepower,and a hoist.The new observer/c<strong>on</strong>troller MEP willinclude enhancements such as an externalpublic address system, while <strong>the</strong> OPFOR MEPwill add items such as MILES/TESS (MultipleIntegrated Laser Engagement System/TacticalEngagement Support System) and a uniquecamouflage paint pattern.‘We currently have <strong>the</strong> medevac variant and<strong>the</strong> VIP variant,’ Bristol noted. ‘And right now wealso have <strong>the</strong> security and support birds thatwe’re building for <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guard.’He said <strong>the</strong> critical design review (CDR) wasrecently completed for c<strong>on</strong>troller helicoptersfor <strong>the</strong> CTCs at <strong>the</strong> JRTC at Fort Polk, <strong>the</strong> NTCat Fort Irwin and <strong>the</strong> JMRC in Hohenfels,Germany, and <strong>the</strong> aircraft was now at <strong>the</strong>prototype stage.‘The two in producti<strong>on</strong> right now are <strong>the</strong>medevac and <strong>the</strong> VIP, with S&S and <strong>the</strong> CTCvariants just completing CDR and seeking FAA➡www.rotorhub.com Volume 29 Number 2 | March/April 2010 | Defence <strong>Helicopter</strong> 17


<strong>UH</strong>-72 UPDATEcertificati<strong>on</strong> this summer [mid-2010]. And <strong>the</strong>nof course we’ll cut those into producti<strong>on</strong>. So allprogrammes are <strong>on</strong> cost/<strong>on</strong> schedule, so I’mvery pleased with that. The fifth variant, <strong>the</strong>OPFOR c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong>, is also looking for FAAcertificati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> late summer timeframe.’IN THE FIELDRecapping quantities already fielded, Bristoladded: ‘They’re performing very well. Thecustomers are very happy. As <strong>the</strong>y divest <strong>the</strong>OH-58s and <strong>UH</strong>-1s I think <strong>the</strong>y are very pleasedwith this aircraft and <strong>the</strong> MEP that <strong>the</strong>y arereceiving. And I look forward to <strong>the</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>se to<strong>the</strong> security support package, as that retrofitprocess and cut into producti<strong>on</strong> happensaround <strong>the</strong> end of this year or early next year. Ithink <strong>the</strong>y’re going to be very pleased with it.’In terms of platform modificati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>on</strong>e early<strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> effort involved <strong>the</strong> aircraft ventilati<strong>on</strong>system. ‘That has worked out very well,’ Bristolsaid. ‘Currently we just have <strong>the</strong> ECUs in <strong>the</strong>medevac and VIP variants. That was <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>lything approved. But I believe that <strong>the</strong> customerThe <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> is beingdelivered in five mainvariants: medvac; VIP;security and support;observer/c<strong>on</strong>troller; andopposing force. (Photo:EADS North America)is very happy with that and <strong>the</strong>re has beensome interest across <strong>the</strong> fleet to add additi<strong>on</strong>alECUs. But nothing has been approved forthat yet.‘O<strong>the</strong>r than that, <strong>the</strong>re is an engine inletbarrier filter (EIBF) that we have added <strong>on</strong> toaircraft in certain locati<strong>on</strong>s – about 65 aircraft atthis point – where we have d<strong>on</strong>e site surveysand that has proved to help save erosi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><strong>the</strong> compressor blades. So every time we go tofield – for example, this year we have 11fielding sites – we do a site survey. And part ofthat is looking at <strong>the</strong> envir<strong>on</strong>ment. And, if needbe, we will put an EIBF <strong>on</strong> each engine to helpprotect those blades,’ he said.Bristol noted that o<strong>the</strong>r potential platformmodificati<strong>on</strong>s ranged from leveragingblade coating efforts from o<strong>the</strong>r helicopterprogrammes to integrated healthmanagement systems.‘Right now we’re testing a set of coatedblades at NTC,’ he said. ‘And we look for a twophasedapproach for L<strong>UH</strong>. One is coating <strong>the</strong>leading edge and testing that out <strong>the</strong>re in <strong>the</strong>field. And we also want to look at coating <strong>the</strong>entire blade. So that programme is going verywell. We are also looking at hardenedwindshield applicati<strong>on</strong>s, just because of <strong>the</strong>envir<strong>on</strong>ments we fly in, and that programme isalso going very well. And <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> last thing weare looking at is just a little seed m<strong>on</strong>ey forIVHMS [Integrated Vehicle Health ManagementSystem], so we’re looking to do some testingwith IVHMS in this aircraft.’He added that <strong>on</strong>e additi<strong>on</strong>al modificati<strong>on</strong>could involve <strong>the</strong> installati<strong>on</strong> of blue forcetracking capabilities <strong>on</strong> selected <strong>Lakota</strong>s.TRAINING UPWith more than 500 pilots and maintainerstrained to date by American Eurocopter atEADS North America’s Grand Prairie, Texas,headquarters and at <strong>the</strong> Eastern ARNGAviati<strong>on</strong> Training Site at Fort Indiantown Gap,Pennsylvania, Bristol was also quick tohighlight <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s of <strong>the</strong> relatedtraining and support activities to <strong>the</strong> overallprogramme success.‘Here in <strong>the</strong> programme we have not <strong>on</strong>lyproducti<strong>on</strong> but we also have <strong>the</strong> training of <strong>the</strong>pilots,’ he explained. ‘I’ve trained 360 pilots and184 Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guard maintainers to date, andwe c<strong>on</strong>tinue to train pilots and maintenancepers<strong>on</strong>nel. So not <strong>on</strong>ly producti<strong>on</strong> but trainingA <strong>UH</strong>-<strong>72A</strong> in medevac c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong> after landingat its new home at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where itis replacing <strong>the</strong> <strong>UH</strong>-1 Iroquois. (Photo: US Army)is going very well, as is our sustainment plan. Ithink <strong>the</strong> customer is very pleased with <strong>the</strong> fullCLS for <strong>the</strong> TDA sites and <strong>the</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Guard isreally enjoying <strong>the</strong> ability to receive parts in atimely manner. All parts are delivered within 48hours so operati<strong>on</strong>al readiness is <strong>the</strong> highest, Ithink, across aviati<strong>on</strong>. We are c<strong>on</strong>sistently over90%. I think that’s a huge accomplishment.’Bristol said although a few aircraft were stillcoming out of Eurocopter’s D<strong>on</strong>auwörthfacility in Germany, producti<strong>on</strong> had largelymoved to <strong>the</strong> US.‘By <strong>the</strong> October timeframe we will have100% coming out of Columbus, Mississippi.But that’s just a little bit of overlap in <strong>the</strong>producti<strong>on</strong> schedule. Right now almosteverything <strong>on</strong> my programme is coming outof Columbus… So I think that it’s really a proudmoment for our programme that we areproducing a high-quality product, a verysophisticated aircraft, for <strong>the</strong> user.’In terms of Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) and FY11fielding plans, Bristol pointed to a schedule of35 aircraft being fielded to 11 locati<strong>on</strong>s during<strong>the</strong> current fiscal year, adding that ‘next year,in FY11, we are fielding a total of 64 aircraftacross 20 locati<strong>on</strong>s, which is phenomenal’.‘Our most challenging fielding locati<strong>on</strong>sare going to be Hohenfels, Germany, as afull OCONUS CLS site, and <strong>the</strong>n Kwajalein[Atoll]. That’s going to be pretty significant forour team.‘Again, <strong>the</strong> programme is really doing solidly.I really d<strong>on</strong>’t have any challenges <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>producti<strong>on</strong> side or modificati<strong>on</strong>s. The Nati<strong>on</strong>alGuard has been a solid team player in helpingdevelop <strong>the</strong> security support package. So Ithink overall that every<strong>on</strong>e has been verypleased with <strong>the</strong> product.’ DH18Defence <strong>Helicopter</strong> | March/April 2010 | Volume 29 Number 2www.rotorhub.com

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