New Lakota Variant for US Army

摘要

Airbus Helicopters announced at the 2020 National Guard Association of the United States virtual tradeshow on August 28 that it will be delivering a new variant of the Lakota helicopter to the US Army. Based on the Airbus Helicopters H145, the US Army calls its new variant the UH-72B Lakota, having previously bought the UH-72A Lakota. A $74m UH-72B contract was awarded on July 23 for 15 helicopters, with options to procure three more (two of which were exercised by the end of September). The first delivery is planned for 2021 and the estimated contract completion date is August 31, 2022. Airbus has already handed over more than 460 UH-72A Lakota helicopters to the US Army, Navy and National Guard, with the 463rd and final UH-72A model having been delivered in late September.