Eurocopter/ LM AAS 72 X

ARLINGTON, Va. | EADS North America and its industry team of American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will independently fund and develop three AAS-72X helicopters to demonstrate the performance, capabilities and maturity of this rotary-wing aircraft for the U.S. Army’s Armed Aerial Scout mission.

The first AAS-72X Technical Demonstration Aircraft (TDA) will be operational in late 2010, and will be used for mission equipment and weapon system integration, performance testing and survivability validations

“This commitment is a significant investment and continues our entrepreneurial approach to meeting our customers’ demanding needs.

These aircraft will ensure the AAS-72X provides a fully capable, compliant Armed Aerial Scout solution for America’s warfighters at the earliest possible date,” said EADS North America CEO Sean O’Keefe. “It is part of a low-risk approach that combines mature, developed technologies with the proven UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter – which is in widespread service with the U.S. Army.”

The AAS-72X flight test and demonstration program is backed by significant investment from the EADS North America-led industrial team – which includes Eurocopter, American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin.

In addition to the three demonstration helicopters, Lockheed Martin has established a high-fidelity systems integration lab for the AAS-72X’s mission equipment package at its Orlando, Fla., facility.

As a highly capable helicopter for the Armed Aerial Scout mission, the AAS-72X combines twin-engine safety, high and hot operating performance and a large cabin for true multi-role capability.

The AAS-72X is derived from the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, offering a low-risk evolution of the U.S. Army’s newest
rotary-wing aircraft, which is widely considered one of the most successful acquisition programs in the service’s history.

Production of the AAS-72X would take place at the Columbus, Miss., helicopter center of excellence operated by EADS North America’s subsidiary American Eurocopter, where the UH-72A currently is assembled for the U.S. Army. EADS North America has delivered more than 100 UH-72As on time and within budget.