The US Army National Guard has taken delivery of the first of 18 UH-72B LAKOTA helicopters on order, according to manufacturer Airbus Helicopters. The UH-72 is based on the widely used H145 (formerly EC145) light helicopter. Since 2006, the US Army has received 463 helicopters of the predecessor type UH-72A. The latest variant features technologies that enhance both safety and flight performance. These include:
- the five-bladed main rotor
- Fenestron tail rotor
- Safran-Arriel 2E engines
- the Airbus-developed Helionix avionics system
With nearly 10 different configurations, the LAKOTA offers proven performance, high operational reliability and versatility for a wide range of military missions, Airbus writes.
