Lakota helo in DOD spending bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $578 billion FY 2017 defense spending bill March 8. Among measures are $8.2 billion to buy 74 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and $187 million for 28 UH-72 Lakota helicopters for the Army, which are built by Airbus Helicopters Inc. in Columbus, Miss., for pilot training at the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 371-48. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of F-35A/C maintenance and pilot training center for the Air Force, Navy and six partner-nations. The bill is making its way to the Senate for a vote. (Sources: The Hill, WEAR-TV, Alabama Today, Defense News, 03/08/17)