Powerplant To Be Installed In A Lakota Helicopter

Turbomeca has delivered its 10,000th Arriel production engine, which will power a United States Army UH-72A Lakota helicopter. During a ceremony at the Turbomeca USA site Friday, Olivier Andries, Turbomeca Chairman & CEO and Russ Spray, Turbomeca USA President & CEO, presented the United States Army a commemorative plaque to mark this event. Accepting on behalf of United States Army was Mr. Randy Harkins, PEO Aviation Chief of Staff and Lieutenant Colonel David Bristol, UH-72A Lakota Program Manager.

EADS North America was awarded the United States Army's Light Utility Helicopter contract in 2006 for 345 UH-72A Lakota twin-engine helicopters powered by Turbomeca's Arriel 1E2. Today, 454 Arriel 1E2 engines have been delivered for the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota. The U.S. Navy has purchased five additional Lakotas for their Test Pilot School.

"I am honored that our 10,000th Arriel engine will power the U.S. Army Lakota helicopter. This engine is produced at our Grand Prairie, Texas facility with manufacturing of some key components from Turbomeca Manufacturing in Monroe, North Carolina. We thank the U.S. Army who put their confidence in the Arriel engine for their demanding missions. Contributing to their complete satisfaction is always our top priority." says Olivier Andries.

"I am extremely proud of the Light Utility Helicopter team, and I congratulate them on this important milestone," said Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, Program Executive Officer for Army Aviation. "Your dedication to excellence has supported our nation's homeland defense and security and has provided our Army and National Guard units with a very capable light utility helicopter - all on cost and on schedule."
 
All 700 UH-72A engines are produced and tested at the Turbomeca USA facility located in Grand Prairie, Texas. Russ Spray said that "The fact that Turbomeca USA engines power several United States government helicopter platforms attests to the power and reliability of our engines. In addition to the US Army, the Department of Homeland Security is also our customer, as the Arriel engine powers the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65C and MH-65D helicopters."

FMI: www.eads.com, www.safran-group.com/?lang=en