Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

Initially marketed as the UH-145, the helicopter was selected as the winner of the United States Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program on 30 June 2006. In October 2006, American Eurocopter was awarded a production contract for 345 aircraft to replace the aging Bell UH-1H/V Iroquois and Bell OH-58A/C Kiowa helicopters in the US Army and Army National Guard fleets. The UH-72 performs non-combat logistics and support missions within the US for homeland security, disaster response missions, and medical evacuations. This allows the more expensive UH-60 and other types to be freed up for frontline service. The UH-72A is also used for helicopter pilot training

Design

The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) UH-72 Lakota is a twin-engine helicopter with a single, four-bladed main rotor. The UH-72 is a militarized version of the Eurocopter EC145, built by American Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters, Inc.), a division of Airbus Group, Inc. Several hundred UH-72 of various types have entered service by the 2020s since their introduction in 2006.

LUH Program and UH-145

The LUH program was initiated in early 2004, with an initial requirement for 322 helicopters to conduct homeland security, administrative, logistic, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and support of the army test and training centers missions. The LUH contract was released in July 2005. At least five proposals were received, including the Bell 210 and Bell 412, MD Explorer, and AgustaWestland AW139. EADS North America (EADS NA) marketed the UH-145 variant of the EC 145 for the program. On 30 June 2006, the U.S. Army announced that the UH-145 as the winner of the $3 billion LUH contract. In August, the UH-145 was officially designated UH-72A by the Department of Defense. The award was confirmed in October 2006 following protests from losing bidders. Despite a four-month delay due to the protests, the first UH-72 was delivered on time in December, when the name Lakota was also formally announced for the type, following the service's tradition of giving Native American names to its helicopters.

Airbus Transport

Airbus Helicopters UH-145
Airbus Helicopters) UH-72 Lakota

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
Capacity: 9 troops or 2 stretchers and medical crew / 3,953 lb (1,793 kg) payload
Length: 42 ft 9 in (13.03 m)
Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Empty weight: (1,792 kg)
Max takeoff weight: (3,585 kg)

Powerplants

Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engine, 738 shp (each
Main rotor diameter: 36 ft 1 in (11 m)
Main rotor area: (94.98 m²)
Blade section: ONERA OA415/OA312 at root; ONERA OA409/OA407 at tip

Specifications

Maximum speed: (246 km/h
Cruise speed: 145 km/h,
Range: 426 mi (685 km, 370 nmi)
Service ceiling: (4,018 m)
Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min

Links to Youtube & Others

The Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, now called Airbus Helicopters H225M, is a long-range tactical transport military helicopter developed from the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar.

Airbus Helicopters
UH-72 Lakota

The EC725 is based on the Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar, improving upon

Youtube Link

The EC725 was developed to meet a French Air Force requirement for a specialist helicopter for Combat Search and Rescue operations.

Airbus Industries
Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota

Airbus Helicopters
UH-72 Lakota

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History Airbus Helicopters UH-145
Airbus Helicopters) UH-72 Lakota