radios, such as police, fire department, hospitals, and first responders, but we can also communicate on the military fre- quencies,” Thurgood said.


The ARNG plans to buy at least 100 UH-72A S&S-package aircraft; 17 will be retrofitted, and 83 will roll new off the production line, Barth said.


The UH-72A is built by EADS North America at its American Eurocopter pro- duction facility.


EQUIPPING LAKOTAS


LTC Stephen P. Todd and CW5 Edward C. Aldecoa perform start-up checks on one of the Louisiana National Guard’s UH-72A Lakota helicopters at the Lakota production center in Columbus, MS. New UH-72A Lakotas will be equipped with a state-of-the-art mission equipment package, while older versions will be retrofitted. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Stephanie J. Cross.)


The package, positioned aboard the UH-72A Lakota LUH, includes an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, enhanced cockpit screens, high-power illuminator system, analog-digital data downlink capability, and GPS-enhanced moving map displays.


A GPS-guided navigation system aboard the security and support (S&S)-equipped air- craft has moving maps and street addresses, which are useful on domestic missions.


“We put a navigation system in, which allows us to put in a street address, and it will navigate pilots to that precise loca- tion,” said COL Neil Thurgood, then Project Manager Utility Helicopters.


“The pilots will get all the visual cues on how to get there,” said Gregory Barth, LUH Project Management Office Avi- onics lead. “The moving map is a great addition to this aircraft, as it gives pilots a lot more situational awareness.”


In addition, an MX15i EO/IR sensor and Data Downlink included in the S&S package allow pilots to view and share key data in real time with ground personnel, while the aircraft’s new RT5000 radio sys- tem enables it to transmit simultaneously on multiple bands.


“What’s unique about this is, not only can we communicate on all the civil band


The addition of UH-72As to the Army inventory has freed up at least 23 Black Hawk helicopters for military service overseas, Thurgood said.


“This is important to us,” he said. “This is jobs, technical skills, and advanced avion- ics coming to the United States in support of our military and our industrial base, in support of our mission.”


MI-17S FOR AFGHANS, IRAQIS To enable Iraqi and Afghan forces to con- tinue standing up their own militaries, the U.S. Army is acquiring and sustaining Russian-built Mi-17 helicopters for them, allowing more U.S. forces to return home, service officials said. Both DOD and the Department of State requested the purchases.


O N E O F O U R C H A L L E N G E S F O R N OW A N D T H E F U T U R E I S TO MA K E S U R E T H A T WE


TAKE ADVANTAGE


OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER AND CONGRESS GIVE US.


” A S C . A RMY.MI L 51


”


ACQUISITION


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