Columbus plant to produce more Army helos

EADS North America was awarded a U.S. Army contract for 34 more UH-72A ‘Lakoda’ helicopters – to be built at its Columbus, Miss., plant, according to a release from the company. The contract option was for $181.8 million which would bring the total number of helicopters under contract for delivery to 312. The Army plans to buy 347 Lakotas through 2016. The Columbus plant delivers an average of five of the helicopters per month. The same production line would produce the firm’s armed Lakota derivative (AAS-72X+) for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout helicopter program. Source: EADS North America, Nov. 14, 2012.