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U.S. Government & DoD

American Eurocopter helicopters proudly serve the American government and military – flying missions that protect our nation’s borders, monitor its coastlines, protect against drug trafficking and support homeland security.

The U.S. Coast Guard has the largest Eurocopter fleet in government service today, flying approximately 100 HH-65 Dolphin multi-mission helicopters that are based at 17 Coast Guard Air Stations throughout the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

The traditional role of this twin-engine aircraft – which is a version of Eurocopter’s AS365 – has been in patrol missions, search and rescue flights and other applications. Its duties have subsequently been expanded to include the use of armed Dolphin versions for the protection of the U.S. Capital region and for the interception/interdiction of vessels at sea, including the famous HITRON mission.

Search and rescue remains one of the key duties for the HH-65 fleet.  Dolphins were used extensively in lifesaving operations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and are routinely deployed on missions from sea level to high-altitude mountainous terrain.

All HH-65s have been upgraded to the HH-65C version, which included their re-engining with the FADEC-equipped Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turboshaft, enhancing safety, reliability and performance. This conversion also involved upgrades to the HH-65’s main and tail gearbox upgrades to accommodate the more powerful engines, and the integration of a reconfigured cockpit control panel featuring a Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD). The Arriel 2C2 engines provide 42 percent more power than the HH-65’s original powerplant, substantially enhancing its capabilities.

American Eurocopter supplied the HH-65C upgrade kits, which consisted of some 15,000 parts. In addition, a conversion line for the Dolphin re-engining was created at American Eurocopter’s facility in Columbus, Mississippi – supplementing the primary conversion work carried out in Elizabeth City, North Carolina at the Coast Guard’s Aircraft Repair and Supply Center.

The U.S. Army is phasing in a large fleet of UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters, which are built at American Eurocopter’s Columbus facility.  Selected in June 2006, the UH-72A was chosen by the Army based on the helicopter’s combination of operational capability, reliability, and affordability – while also fulfilling all of the Army's requirements for speed, range, endurance and overall performance. 

Current planning calls for the supply of 345 of Lakotas through 2017.  The UH-72A is a  version of the proven EC145 twin-engine helicopter, and the Lakota fleet will be used in homeland security operations, medical evacuation, passenger/logistics transportation and drug interdiction missions.

UH-72A deliveries began in December 2006, with more than 30 of them delivered on time or ahead of schedule through June 2008 – making the Lakota one of the most successful phase-ins of a new aircraft in Army aviation history. 

Initial Lakotas were deployed to the Army’s National Training Center Air Ambulance Detachment at Ft. Irwin, California; the Training and Doctrine Command’s flight detachment at Fort Eustis, Virginia; and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.    

Army National Guard units will be the UH-72A’s primary users, with operations initiated in the summer of 2008 by the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 1-114 Security & Support Battalion – which performs homeland security, counter-drug and other operations from Tupelo Regional Airport. 

The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is another major government customer for American Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft.  As of July 2008, the Customs and Border Protection helicopter inventory included 48 AS350s and 15 EC120s, with five additional EC120s on order.

In a major agreement announced in July 2008, American Eurocopter is to supply Customs and Border Protection with up to 50 additional AS350B3s, which are to be supplied in an indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery contract with a base year and four one-year options.

An aggressive production schedule has been requested by the agency, with the first helicopter to be delivered in 2009 from American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Mississippi facility, and targeted supply rate of one AS350B3 every 45 days when rate production is achieved. 

Both the AS350 and EC120 are well suited for the Customs and Border Protection mission of surveillance and security patrol of America’s borders, with excellent flight and handling qualities, low noise level, good visibility and the capability to carry mission-specific equipment.  As the quietest helicopter in its class, the EC120’s environmentally-friendly operation enables missions to be flown in wildlife zones contained within the Customs and Border Protection’s area of responsibility.  
 
Other U.S. government agencies operating American Eurocopter helicopters include the FBI, which utilizes the AS350, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Justice.

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