Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota

Airbus Helicopters · France · first flew 2006 · helicopter

The UH-72 Lakota is the US Army's light utility helicopter, a militarised derivative of the Eurocopter EC145 built by Airbus Helicopters in Mississippi. It serves in medevac, homeland security, and training roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Sliding cabin door each side, slab-sided fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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US Army light utility helicopter based on EC145
Fenestron shrouded tail rotor
Sliding cabin door each side, slab-sided fuselage

Identified by its EC145 civilian heritage — fenestron tail rotor, broad rectangular cabin, twin turboshafts mounted over the cabin, and US Army markings with sand/grey finish.

Specifications

The Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota has a length of 13.03 m (43 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
Typical crew: 2 + 6.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Selected in 2006 to replace ageing Bell OH-58 Kiowas and UH-1 Hueys in non-combat utility roles, the Lakota entered Army service in 2007. Production has exceeded 400 airframes, and the type is also used by the Army National Guard across all 50 states for drug interdiction and homeland security missions.

Variants

The UH-72A is the baseline version; the UH-72B introduced a full-authority digital engine control and upgraded avionics for enhanced operational capability.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by the US Army and Army National Guard; not exported in military form, though the EC145 parent is widely used commercially and by law-enforcement worldwide.

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