Aircraft modernization

Airbus Secures Modernization Contract for US Army National Guard’s Lakota Helicopters

Airbus U.S. Space and Defense has received a $27.8 million contract to upgrade the mission equipment package of the UH-72A Lakota helicopters used by the U.S. Army’s National Guard Security & Support Battalion.

The system improvements under the contract, which include enhanced digital interfaces, an advanced moving map and new monitors, will expand the aircraft’s capabilities to conduct day and night missions. The contract calls for the retrofitting of up to 50 National Guard Lakota helicopters deployed across the United States, Airbus said.

The aircraft modifications will be done at Airbus’ Columbus, Mississippi, production facility, which has delivered more than 480 UH-72A and UH-72B Lakota helicopters to the Army since 2006.

The MEP-equipped helicopters are designed for a range of National Guard missions, such as border security and counter-drug operations, according to Airbus.

Army contracts are among Airbus’ top government deals, with one of the largest coming in 2022 for the $1.5 billion, five-year Lakota Helicopter Fleet Support Contract. The deal tasks the company with providing spare parts, materials and engineering services to nearly 500 Lakota utility and training choppers of the Army.