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

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UH-72 UPDATEThe arrival of the Lakota is freeing up BlackHawks to be deployed in support of operations inIraq and Afghanistan. (Photo: US Army)US Military Academy (USMA) also operate thenew aircraft.On 4 March, EADS North America held aceremony to mark the delivery of the 100thLakota to the army, which it trumpeted as‘another on-time and on-budget achievementfor a highly successful programme’. The aircraft inquestion will be deployed to Germany with theJoint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC).In addition to army applications, five UH-72Aaircraft were purchased by the US Navy for useat the Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS) in PatuxentRiver, Maryland, which not only trains navalaviators but also other US service pilots as wellas those from overseas allies.Programme representatives credit theUH-72A as being a highly capable andmanoeuvrable aircraft, able to support therequirements of NTPS testing and training.FLYING START‘I think the programme is really off to a greatstart,’ Lt Col Dave Bristol, US Army LUHproduct manager, told Defence Helicopter.‘We’ve currently [mid-February 2010] got97 aircraft that are actually fielded to thearmy and that also includes five navyaircraft. Again, the team has done a superjob. That includes American Eurocopter[production, assembly, and delivery] andthe supporting role of Sikorsky on themaintainer side.’Sikorsky Aerospace Services (the aftermarketbusiness of Sikorsky Aircraft) plays a primaryrole in providing contractor logistics support(CLS) for the UH-72A team. In late August2009, it announced the delivery ofenhancements to the HELOTRAC RLmaintenance management system for theUH-72A, including ‘improvements to threeprimary features requested by the US Army:safety; an operating and supportmanagement information system; andfleet management capabilities’.‘The five navy aircraft – and we just deliveredthe fifth one a few weeks ago – were fielded tothe NTPS up at Pax River where they are usingthose for test pilot training,’ Bristol continued.‘So that’s another big accomplishment forthe programme.’The standard LUH configuration includes:cockpit features such as glass cockpit, widefield of view, LCD displays and three-axisautopilot; performance features such as lownoiserotor blades, twin-engined (Turbomeca16Defence Helicopter | March/April 2010 | Volume 29 Number 2www.rotorhub.com
UH-72 UPDATEThe first two Lakotas fielded by the 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 communicationsfeatures such as the ARC-231 suite, interagencyVHF/UHF comms and a cabin intercom system.In addition, mission equipment package(MEP) kits optimise the Lakota to performspecific missions in support of its different roles.For example, the UH-72A is currently beingprimarily delivered in two army configurations –medevac and VIP. The Lakota medevac MEPincludes two NATO standard litters, a medicalstorage kit, an external rescue hoist and anenvironmental control unit (ECU). The VIP MEPfeatures special seats, carpet and an ECU.MULTIPLE VARIANTSBeyond those two configurations, additionalMEP kits are being developed to optimisethree new variants: security and support (S&S)battalion (ARNG); observer/controller; andopposing force (OPFOR).Designed to facilitate homeland securityoperations for ARNG units, the S&S battalionMEP, funded by the National Guard Bureau,includes the Skyquest VRDV-4010 digitalvideo recorder, a EuroNav V RN6 movingmap and Sierra Nevada TactiLink-Eaglecommunications system.Selected aircraft can also be fitted with theL-3 Wescam MX-15i EO/IR sensor, the LuminatorLS16 searchlight, which is slaved to the EO/IRsensor and provides 30 million candlepower,and a hoist.The new observer/controller MEP willinclude enhancements such as an externalpublic address system, while the OPFOR MEPwill add items such as MILES/TESS (MultipleIntegrated Laser Engagement System/TacticalEngagement Support System) and a uniquecamouflage paint pattern.‘We currently have the medevac variant andthe VIP variant,’ Bristol noted. ‘And right now wealso have the security and support birds thatwe’re building for the National Guard.’He said the critical design review (CDR) wasrecently completed for controller helicoptersfor the CTCs at the JRTC at Fort Polk, the NTCat Fort Irwin and the JMRC in Hohenfels,Germany, and the aircraft was now at theprototype stage.‘The two in production right now are themedevac and the VIP, with S&S and the CTCvariants just completing CDR and seeking FAA➡www.rotorhub.com Volume 29 Number 2 | March/April 2010 | Defence Helicopter 17
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Article on the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter - Wescam

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