Thailand proposing Lakota buys from AE

Mississippi’s two United States Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker urged the U.S. government to approve a proposed $77 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of six UH-72A Lakota Helicopters – built at the Columbus, Miss., Golden Triangle Regional Airport by American Eurocopter -- to Thailand. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on June 7 of the proposed FMS. The AE-built Lakota’s are primarily used by the Army for non-combat missions including emergency response, border security, and light transport. DSCA reports no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of the proposed sale. The principal contractor will be EADS North America, in Herndon, Va. AE is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings. Sources: The Associated Press, June 22, 2013; and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency media release, June 20, 2013.