The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) UH-72 Lakota is a twin-engine helicopter with a single, four-bladed main rotor. The UH-72 is a militarized version of the Eurocopter EC145 and was built by American Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters, Inc.), a division of Airbus Group, Inc.
The UH-72 is designed to take on a range of missions, from general support and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) to personnel recovery and counter-narcotics operations.
Other than utility transport, the Lakota can be configured for medical evacuation, VIP transport, security and support, and opposing forces training. It is described as the best military aircraft in the inventory for domestic operations, used by the Army National Guard for state support, disaster relief, and homeland defense and by non-deployed active units for MEDEVAC and training.
The UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter is a military version of the Eurocopter EC145. During the competitive bidding phase, EADS North America used the UH-145 designation for its light utility helicopter entry. The helicopters are being manufactured by Airbus Helicopters at the company’s production centre in Columbus, Mississippi.
The main and tail rotors are high set to allow fast and safe loading and unloading through the main doors and rear-fuselage clamshell doors, even while the rotors are turning. The helicopter has a hingeless rotor system with composite main rotor blades which are 11m in diameter. The rotor configuration provides reduced noise and vibration characteristics. The high-set, twin-blade tail rotor has a diameter of 1.95 m.
The helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines, each providing 550 kW of take-off power and 516 kW continuous power.
The engines are rated to provide a maximum power of 574 kW for two and a half minutes and 404 kW continuously in one-engine-inoperable-mode fight.
The modular design of the UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter allows the fast and efficient installation of a range of mission modules.
The first aircraft was delivered to the US Army on 11 December 2006 in Columbus, Mississippi. On 12 December 2006 in an official ceremony. The service estimated that delivery of the planned 345 aircraft would continue until 2017.
Airbus handed over 440 UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters to the US Army, US Navy and National Guard as of August 2019. The US Department of Defence (DoD) placed orders for more than 478 Lakotas to date.
For ambulance and medical evacuation missions, the cabin can accommodate two stretchers, plus one crew chief (who is qualified to operate the hoist and other aircraft equipment) and one medical attendant. The UH-72A’s Nato standard stretchers and stretcher retainer mounts are supplied by Aerolite of Washington.
Variants
- UH-72A Lakota. An unarmed utility military version of the EC 145.
- UH-72B Lakota. Upgrade of the UH-72A; this configuration is based on the upgraded civilian Eurocopter EC145T2. The model has a Fenestron tail rotor, more powerful engines, enhanced controls, and the Airbus Helionix avionics suite. Will enter service with the ANG in 2021.
- AAS-72X. A proposed armed version of the UH-72 for the US Army's Armed Aerial Scout OH-58D replacement program offered by EADS and Lockheed Martin.
- AAS-72X+. An armed military version of the Eurocopter EC145T2 also proposed for the Armed Aerial Scout program. It was equipped with more powerful engines with an extra 200 shaft horsepower each, a fenestron shrouded tail rotor, and a fully digital glass cockpit.
On 7 June 2013, Thailand requested the sale of six UH-72A Lakotas with associated equipment, training, and support for an estimated cost of $77 million. On 9 October 2013, the Thai government approved $55 million in funds to support the Royal Thai Army's acquisition of six UH-72A helicopters from 2013 to 2015. On 28 March 2014, the Thai Army awarded a $34 million contract to Airbus Helicopter for six UH-72As, fitted with a mission equipment package including the AN/ARC-231 airborne radio terminal; deliveries were to begin by April 2015. On 29 September 2014, Congress was notified of a Thailand request for the sale of another nine UH-72 Lakotas, related equipment, and support. By November 2015, the six helicopters had been delivered.
Operators
- Thailand
- Royal Thai Army
- United States
- United States Army
- United States Navy
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
- Capacity: 9 troops or 2 stretchers and medical crew / 1,793 kg payload
- Length: 13.03 m
- Height: 3.45 m
- Empty weight: 1,792 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 3,585 kg
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engine, 738 shp (550 kW) each
- Main rotor diameter: 11 m
- Main rotor area: 94.98 m2
- Blade section: ONERA OA415/OA312 at root; ONERA OA409/OA407 at tip
Performance
- Maximum speed: 153 mph (246 km/h, 133 kn)
- Cruise speed: 90 mph (145 km/h, 78 kn)
- Range: 426 mi (685 km, 370 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,182 ft (4,018 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.13 m/s)
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