AE-Columbus helo being considered for new AAS development program

The U.S. Army is in the midst of deciding whether to catapult its Armed Aerial Scout (AAS), extend the life of its current Bell OH-58D/F Kiowa Warrior AAS helicopter or develop a new program altogether. If the Army goes forward with AAS, it will be a new development program, the military deputy for acquisition told a congressional subcommittee on May 8. Aerospace firms, including EADS North America’s AAS-72-X/X+ which is produced at its American Eurocopter plant located within the Golden Triangle region of Columbus, Miss., provided flight demonstrations of the helicopters for the Army in 2012. The East Mississippi plant opened in 2004 and currently has 300 employees – half of which are military veterans. The Army’s deputy chief of staff told the subcommittee that decision plans would be made in late summer or early fall as to whether to recommend new-development for AAS or keep extend the Kiowa helicopter. Source: Aviation Week, May 10, 2013.