Washington, D.C. — Airbus Helicopters Inc. has been awarded a $115.4 million contract by the U.S. Army for 10 new UH-72B Lakota helicopters, with an option for two additional aircraft. If the two-aircraft option is exercised, the total value of the agreement could reach about $140.7 million.
The contract, W58RGZ-26-C-0020, was announced by the Department of War on August 14, 2026. It was issued by Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The initial contract is funded through fiscal 2024 and 2025 Army aircraft procurement funds.
The order includes the helicopters, designated MBB-BK 117 D3, along with jettisonable cockpit doors, air-conditioning system installation, engine inlet barrier filters and program management. The Army solicited the work online and received one bid. The contract currently lists an estimated completion date of December 31, 2030.
Deliveries to Begin in 2027
The 10 helicopters covered by the initial order are scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2029. The aircraft will be assembled at Airbus’ production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, which serves as the manufacturing hub for the Lakota program.
The Columbus facility also employs a workforce that includes a significant share of military veterans.
The new acquisition continues the U.S. Army's modernization of its Army National Guard Lakota fleet, which has been in service since the first UH-72 contract award and delivery in 2006.
UH-72 Lakota Fleet
The UH-72 is the U.S. Army’s third-largest rotor-wing fleet. The helicopters support Army and National Guard units across 49 states and territories.
Lakota helicopters are used for a range of missions, including homeland defense, search and rescue, disaster relief, surveillance and medical evacuation. National Guard units also use the aircraft for missions such as border security and counter-drug operations.
Since the program began, Airbus has delivered more than 480 Lakota helicopters, with the company stating that deliveries have been made on time. The fleet has accumulated more than 1.7 million flight hours.
UH-72B Lakota
The UH-72B is the latest version of the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter. It is based on Airbus’ commercial H145 platform and follows the commercial off-the-shelf approach used by the Lakota program.
The UH-72B features a five-bladed main rotor, a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, twin Safran Arriel 2E engines and the Airbus-designed Helionix avionics suite.
The B variant was introduced by the Army in 2020, with the first UH-72B helicopters delivered to the Army National Guard in September 2021.
The new helicopters under the latest contract will also receive specific field upgrades, including jettisonable cockpit doors, air-conditioning systems and engine inlet barrier filters. These features are included in the contract to support the configuration required by the Army.
Continued Lakota Modernization
The latest contract follows Airbus’ wider support for the Army’s Lakota fleet. In 2022, Airbus secured a separate Contractor Logistics Support contract valued at up to $1.5 billion over five years. That agreement covers spare parts, material and engineering support for the Army’s Lakota fleet at 67 sites nationwide.
Alex Veneziano, CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, said that Army and National Guard pilots need modern technology and a proven aircraft to meet changing mission requirements. He added that continued modernization will keep the Lakota fleet as part of Army aviation in the coming years.
The new UH-72B order adds another 10 helicopters to the Army’s Lakota program, with two additional aircraft available as an option, while continuing the modernization of the Army National Guard’s light utility helicopter fleet.
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