EADS Will Supply US With New Military Helos

EAD's, the European consortium that also builds Airbus, has scored a major sale with the U.S.

Their EC145 will serve as the USA's future Light Utility Helicopter, replacing existing UH-1s and OH-58s in a 345 helicopter, $3+ billion program between 2006-2015, the Pentagon announced.

In 2006, while the rest of EADS was  targeted for divestment and  beginning to face bottom line issues, Eurocopter continued to fly. Fresh off of major wins with Korea's  KHP development program ($1.3 billion) and Australia's H90 order ($1.5 billion), in June 2006 Eurocopter racked up the biggest win of all: America's future Light Utility Helicopter. Losing entries included Team MD Helicopters' 902 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design, Bell-Textron's 412EP Twin Huey, and Team AugustaWestland's AB139.

Eurocopter's LUH first carried the designation UH-145, before being renamed UH-72A Lakota at a December 2006 naming ceremony. This marks the first major U.S. military program awarded to an EADS company.

It was considered a breakthrough for both Eurocopter and its EADS parent.