Airbus announced today it was awarded a $115 million U.S. Army contract for 10 UH-72B Lakota helicopters, with an option for two additional aircraft.

The contract supports the Army National Guard's continued modernisation of the UH-72 Lakota, the third-largest rotor wing fleet in the Army, and provides pilots with a proven, multi-mission platform that can perform homeland defence, search and rescue, disaster relief, surveillance, MEDEVAC and other critical missions that save lives and keep Americans safe.

"Army and National Guard pilots need modern technology and a proven aircraft they can count on to meet evolving mission demands," said Alex Veneziano, CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. "Continued modernisation ensures the Army's Lakota fleet remains a critical part of Army aviation for years to come."

The UH-72B is the latest iteration of the proven commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft that has been the Army's Light Utility Helicopter since the first Lakota contract award and delivery in 2006.

Based on the widely successful H145, the UH-72B incorporates technologies that increase both safety and flight performance, including a five-bladed main rotor, Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, twin Safran Arriel 2E engines, and an Airbus-designed Helionix avionics suite.

With over 480 on-time deliveries and more than 1.7 million flight hours across the fleet, the UH-72 Lakota supports the Army and Army National Guard across 49 U.S. states and territories.

The aircraft will be assembled at Airbus' helicopter production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027 and continue through 2029.