EADS to Provide the US Navy with UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters

ARLINGTON, VA: The U.S. Navy has become a new military user of the UH-72 Light Utility Helicopter, provided by EADS North America, with the service ordering five aircraft for use in pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland.

With this new acquisition, the Navy joins the active Army and the Army National Guard in acquiring UH-72 Lakotas -- underscoring the twin-engine helicopter's versatility in a full range of operational missions and applications. The Navy's firm fixed-price order is valued at more than $24 million. Deliveries are scheduled from October 2009 through January 2010.

"The U.S. Navy contract is a further validation of the UH-72's versatility and mission capability, and confirms EADS North America's capacity to perform as a top-tier military supplier," said Ralph D. Crosby, EADS North America's Chairman and CEO. "We have delivered over 40 Lakotas on time and on budget to the Army and National Guard, and are committed to continuing this high standard of performance with the Navy."

UH-72A Lakota helicopters have been in the U.S. Army inventory since late 2006. Today, more than 40 aircraft are operating with Army and Army National Guard units across the country. More than 350 Lakotas are currently planned for acquisition by the Army through 2017, with mission responsibilities ranging from homeland security to support and logistics missions.

Production of the UH-72 is performed at the Golden Triangle Regional airport in Columbus, Mississippi under the management of American Eurocopter, an EADS North America business unit. The Light Utility Helicopter's production facility is a 220,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art addition to American Eurocopter's rotary-wing aircraft center of excellence previously operating at Columbus.

Lakota deliveries to the Army and National Guard currently average three to four helicopters per month, with the capacity to reach five UH-72s monthly.

The military UH-72 is based on the highly successful Eurocopter EC145 multi-role civilian helicopter, which is in service worldwide for transport, medical evacuation, off-shore, law enforcement and other missions.

EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $9 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 190,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.