Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota
The UH -72A Lakota is a light twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter of Eurocopter. The factory designated as UH -145 machine provides customized to military necessity variant of the EC 145; they do is in the area of internal security operations (English homeland security ), medevac and search and rescue and for general material and passenger and VIP transport used.
History
In 2006, EADS had won the UH- 145, the invitation of the U.S. Army (U.S. Army ) for the new light utility helicopter. The person designated by the armed forces of the United States as a UH -72A Lakota machine replaces the outdated multi-purpose helicopter Bell UH- 1 Huey.
Provider of the UH -72A as a main contractor of the U.S. Army is EADS North America Defense, a division of EADS North America, its 100 % - owned subsidiary American Eurocopter manufactures the helicopter in Columbus ( Mississippi, USA ). In addition to other equipment manufacturers, these companies are partners on the LUH program, the following: Sikorsky for logistics and support, West Wind Technologies for Systemintergration and engineering services as well as Canadian Aviation Electronics (Canada), which is responsible for the cockpit trainer.
It ordered 322 copies. The first machines were manufactured in Germany and assembled in the USA until the production line was completely removed in August 2007 for series production. The unit price should be 5.57 million U.S. dollars.
In flight tests of the U.S. Army for ambulance services within the UH -72 to high temperatures were observed. For operation as a rescue helicopter with two stretchers therefore air conditioners were installed, which are also used in the civilian EC 145. Patients or wounded are loaded by the two rear doors in the helicopter. In addition, the rescue version of the UH -72 was fitted with military radio systems and some with Fremdkörperabscheidern for the air intakes.
Five machines with the designation H -72A with a contract value of 21.7 million U.S. dollars were also appointed on 12 September 2008 by the United States Navy for their Test Pilot School (United States Naval Test Pilot School ) and have been delivered. They replaced there helicopters that were on loan from the U.S. Army. The first copy was delivered on 12 November 2009 to the U.S. Navy. The H -72A differs from the UH -72A by ejectable doors, a folding device for the main rotor and an air traffic advisory system (traffic advisory system). In addition, a flight data recorder was installed.
The first five aircraft for the U.S. Army in Europe were delivered in April 2010 at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base to the TASM -E, 405th Army Field Support Brigade.
Military user
- United States United States U.S. Army
- U.S. Navy
Specifications
Or max. 1500 kg external load ( to winch 270 kg )