Feature story
Industry team advances the Armed Aerial Scout 72X into its demonstration phase
April 23, 2010
The EADS North America-led industry team’s decision to independently develop three AAS-72X technology demonstrator helicopters underscores its major commitment to provide a mature solution for the U.S. Army’s Armed Aerial Scout mission.
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“I don’t know of any circumstances where an industry team takes the initiative to – based on what they know to be the scope of a customer’s requirements – make such an investment that resolves any questions about the capability to perform,” said Sean O’Keefe, the Chief Executive Officer of EADS North America. “We feel it is in our interest – and in the interest of the Department of Defense, the U.S. taxpayer and the American warfighter – to demonstrate our low-cost and low-risk approach.”
Joining EADS North America for the AAS-72X demonstrator program are its industrial partners for this rotary-wing aircraft: American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin. The three helicopters being funded by the team will validate the AAS-72X’s performance, capabilities and maturity, and underscore its ability to meet the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout mission criteria.
This development work will build on EADS North America’s experience with the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, from which the AAS-72X is derived. To date, more than 100 UH-72A Lakotas have been delivered on time, on quality and within budget to the U.S. Army – underscoring EADS North America’s capabilities to successfully lead a major military program as a prime contractor.
The first AAS-72X Technology Demonstration Aircraft will focus on the helicopter’s mission equipment package, with activity divided into two distinct phases: integration of its communications and navigation systems, leading to a first flight in December 2010; followed by additional work on weapons systems, pylons and other elements for the Armed Scout Mission.
A second demonstrator will focus on airframe modifications and survivability aspects, while the third helicopter – which was on display at this month’s annual convention of the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) – will be used for risk reduction analysis.
Development of the three demonstrators is complemented by Lockheed Martin’s establishment of a high-fidelity systems integration lab for the AAS-72X’s mission equipment package at its Orlando, Florida, facility.
The AAS-72X helicopters would be produced at American Eurocopter’s center of excellence in Columbus, Mississippi, where UH-72A Lakotas are manufactured for the U.S. Army at a purpose-built production facility. Â
O’Keefe said both the Lakota and AAS-72X can both be produced in the necessary numbers with minimal changes and recapitalization to the existing production site – which is expected to produce a total of 345 UH-72As for the Army, along with five H-72As for the U.S. Navy and potentially others for export through foreign military sales agreements.
