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Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota

2007 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota

Airbus Helicopters' UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) was introduced to the US Armed Forces in 2007. The Sikorsky RAH-66 "Comanche" light attack/reconnaissance platform has since been cancelled. With the cancellation of this system, some of its remaining funds were reinvested into a light utility model that became the UH-72.

The UH-72 platform is based on Eurocopter's existing EC145 model, which was introduced in 2002. About 300 prototypes have been delivered since the UH-72 began production. Lakota is assembled by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter of America) and now serves the US Army and US Navy.

The launch of the EC145 by the US Army marks its first acquisition of a military helicopter platform based on the civilian market. The move is logistically based and reduces overhead by leveraging existing, proven systems and readily available spare parts.

It is designed to replace the Bell OH-58 "Kiowa" family of light helicopters and the venerable Bell UH-1 "Huey" medium transport model.

The Lakota has a distinctly European look, with its rounded body and heavy glass front end. Cockpit and cabin windows are large for improved situational awareness. A typical crew consists of two people, and the passenger seat can accommodate up to eight to two medical stretchers (the latter serving as medical evacuation).

Access to the cabin is wide, as raised crossmembers allow a "flip"-style door to be installed along the rear fuselage. There are also side sliding doors for regular entry and exit. The helicopter uses a landing skid instead of the more complex wheeled retractable landing legs.

The main rotor is close to the canopy, and the exposed tail rotor is mounted on the port side of the tail.

Power is provided by 2 Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines, each producing 738 SHP, simultaneously driving a four-blade main rotor and a two-blade tail rotor. Performance includes a top speed of 167 mph and a cruising speed of nearly 155 mph.

Range is up to 425 miles and service is capped at approximately 18,000 feet. The climb rate is 1,600 feet per minute. Dimensions include a length of 42.6 feet, a rotor diameter of 36 feet, and a height of 11.8 feet.

Operators other than the US Army and Navy now include Thailand, which ordered six systems (2015). Another nine units have been announced to be sourced from the Southeast Asian country.

Variants include the UH-72A, a militarized version of the EC145 model. The UH-72B is an upgraded A variant based on the newly introduced EC145 T2 model, with upgraded engines and upgraded avionics, with a new ducted Fenestron tail rotor. The AAS-72X is another proposed brand of armored light attack platform designed to replace the armed Bell OH-57D Kiowa Warrior in the same role.

The AAS-72X+ has a similar product target but is based on the newer product model EC145 T2.

The U.S. Army plans to deploy a total of 187 Lakota helicopters as part of a new training program that already includes 50 aircraft in 2015. These replace the same role of the outgoing Bell TH-67 (Type 209) light helicopter.

The source also provided a total of 338 US Army Lakota helicopters and a total of 5 US Navy helicopters.