Thales celebrates continued success supporting the U.S. Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter program
Paris Air Show, 16 June 2009 – As the Lakota program matures, Thales has been ramping up its program activities in the U.S. through program management, supply chain management, final assembly of the glass cockpit displays and all in-service support for the Lakota program from its sites in Edison NJ and Seattle WA.
The successful steps in program deployment have been notched up thick and fast over the past half year with a best-in-class rating of Thales by Helicopter Support Inc. (HSI), the Sikorsky Aerospace Services company tasked with providing by-the-hour contracted support services. Additionally, the smooth implementation of Electronic Data Interchange integration between Thales and HSI, introduction of the new air data computer for the Lakota and other Eurocopter Group commercial programs, and consistent on-time deliveries have allowed Thales to support EADS North America and American Eurocopter. EADS North America has delivered 69 UH-72A Lakota helicopters to U.S. Army and Army National Guard units.
As a first-tier partner to EADS North America, Thales is supplying the UH-72A with its market-leading Meghas® avionics suite which is uniquely adapted to the requirements of today's helicopter missions. By design, MeghasÒ reduces crew workload and provides increased situational awareness, allowing Army and Army National Guard pilots to employ clean, easy-to-fly avionics for military missions derived from the civilian world.
“Thales’s vast experience in developing and deploying sophisticated avionics systems such as Meghas® continues to serve EADS North America and American Eurocopter well in our team effort in support of this program of record,” stated Brad Foreman, head of Thales’s aerospace activities in North America. “We are confident that this versatile technology will continue to provide long-term value for the UH-72A program.”
Thales has stood up a full program team to support this important program in the U.S. covering both the line-fit aspects including equipment production and the in-service support in partnership with HSI.
To date, 128 Lakotas have been ordered by the Army, with the military service planning to acquire a total of 345 UH-72As through 2016. In addition, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md. The Lakota is dedicated to missions such as medical evacuation, general aviation support, personnel transport and the Army National Guard’s Homeland Security missions.
About The Meghas suite
Thales’ Meghas solution provides primary flight display, navigation display, multifunction display and vehicle and engine monitoring display within a modular and integrated architecture. Optimisation is key: the innovative Vehicle & Engine Monitoring Display replaces 13 different instruments in more conventional cockpits.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com
Thales is exhibiting at the Paris Air Show from 15 – 21 June.
Please come and visit us at stand B233.
Press Contacts
Thales Aerospace USA
Lori Krans
+1 949 790 2512
+1 949 923 09763
Lori,Krans@us.thalesgroup.com
Thales, Aerospace
Natasha Harvey
+ 33 1 34 81 40 50
+ 33 6 74 94 23 81
natasha.Harvey@fr.thalesgroup.com
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