Army may seek more ‘Lakotas’

The Army may want 16 more UH-72A “Lakota” helicopters – built at Airbus Helicopters’ production facility in Columbus, Miss. The Navy has ordered 12 UH-1Y “Venoms” and 16 AH-1Z “Vipers” from Bell Helicopter. An Army contract process for the 16 UH-72s is "anticipated" to be awarded about June 30, according to a contracting notice published March 10. Delivery would be between December 2017 and March 2018. The tentative award appears to extend production beyond a 12-helo order from last November. Delivery from that award is anticipated by August 2017. Venoms and Vipers are primarily operated by the Marine Corps. This order reflects the Corps' transition to the AH-1Z light-attack helicopters from legacy AH-1Ws, which will be phased out by 2020. (Source: Flight Global 03/14/16) Gulf Coast Aviation Note: The Marine aviation unit at NAS/JRB New Orleans is the only regional site still flying the legacy AH-1W “Super Cobra.” They are tentatively to be replaced by the UH-1Y.