39 Lakotas ordered

The Army has awarded EADS North America a $212.7 million contract for 39 UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters. Thirty-two of them will be produced in the Army's Security and Support Battalion configuration and will be used by the National Guard nationwide. EADS North America has already delivered 198 UH-72A Lakotas to the Army along with five H-72A versions to the Navy for test pilot training. The Lakotas are built at EADS North America's American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss. The S&S Battalion MEP was integrated and tested at American Eurocopter's Grand Prairie, Texas facility. The program of record calls for 345 UH-72A Lakotas to be delivered to the Army and Army National Guard through 2015, along with five already delivered to the Navy. (Source: EADS, 01/10/12) Gulf Coast note: EADS also has operations in Mobile, Ala.