Becker Avionics DVCS6100 selected for UH-72A Lakota

Becker Avionics has announced that its Digital Voice Communication System (DVCS 6100) has been selected for the US Army’s new UH-72A Lakota Mission Equipment Package (MEP) aircraft, a variant of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). Becker Avionics made the announcement in a 26 January 2012 company statement.

Programme plans call for 100 MEP variants of the UH-72A, which are intended to support the Army National Guard’s Security and Support (S&S) Battalion Mission. Lakota helicopters in the S&S Battalion configuration enable Army National Guard units to seamlessly support state and local law enforcement and federal homeland security agencies in responding to natural disasters, law enforcement and border security operations.

The first Lakota equipped with the Security and Support (S&S) Battalion Mission Equipment Package (MEP) entered into operational service with the Mississippi National Guard’s Company C, 1st of the 114th Security and Support Battalion in late 2011. According to the company, the system offers ‘superior system capabilities, Product Reliability and Support, unmatched operational flexibility, mission tested performance, NVG compatibility out of the box, and proven Man-machine interface’.

The Army recently awarded EADS North America a contract to deliver 39 UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) this year. Currently there 198 UH-72A Lakota’s in operation with the US Army National Guard, plus five H-72A versions with the US Navy, dedicated to test pilot training at Pax River MD. With the new contract award of 39 additional aircraft, the total Lakota programme now surpasses 270 aircraft.