Pentagon orders 26 TH-73A Thrasher helicopters
Leonardo announced on 24 December that the Pentagon is acquiring an additional 26 TH-73A Thrasher helicopters. The DoD awarded AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp a $110.5 million firm-fixed-price modification to the previously awarded contract for the US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS).
The helicopters will be produced in Philadelphia, and work is expected to be completed in December 2024. The TH-73A will train aviators from the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
In January 2020, Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia, was awarded a $176 million firm-fixed-price agreement for the supply of 32 TH-73A helicopters, spares, support, dedicated equipment and specific pilot/maintenance training services.
Related Articles
Training capability jumps as TH-73A arrives
US Navy has bold plans for future aviator training
Leonardo boosted by 2021 aircraft order increase, notes ‘limited exposure’ to Russia
However, the company could not proceed with production due to an Airbus protest on the deal. In May 2020, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced that it has dismissed Airbus's protest and approved Leonardo's work to continue on production of the first batch.
The second lot of 36 aircraft was ordered in November 2020 through a $171 million contract modification. In December 2021, the DoD awarded a $159.4 million deal for the third lot of 36 helicopters.
More from Air Warfare
-
Poland and Netherlands approved for hundreds of air-to-ground missiles
The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft.
-
Anduril and GA-ASI propel forward in US Air Force CCA programme’s next phase
Anduril and GA-ASI have raced ahead in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative, securing contracts with the US Air Force to build production representative flight test platforms.
-
Another Saab GlobalEye lands in the UAE
The arrival of the latest GlobalEye marked the fourth AEW&C aircraft delivery to the UAE in just four years.
-
India could buy nearly 100 new Tejas fighters in biggest ever domestic order
This procurement would form part of the Indian Air Force’s plan to retire its fleet of MiG-21 fighters and replace them with the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1As by 2025.