Safran contract renewed for US Army UH-72 Lakota engine support.

Safran Helicopter Engines has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to continue supporting Arriel engines powering the U.S. Army UH-72 Lakota helicopter fleet. This contract formalizes a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and service agreement supporting over 900 Arriel 1E2 and Arriel 2E engines, operated by the U.S. Army on its UH-72A and UH-72B.

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 Light utility UH-72A Lakota helicopter (Picture source: US Army)

This contract will be managed by Safran Helicopter Engines USA, from its Grand Prairie, TX facility and its office located in Daleville, AL supporting the training fleet located at Fort Rucker, AL.

Thierry Derrien, Safran Helicopter Engines USA, President and CEO said: “Safran Helicopter Engines is honored to continue working alongside Airbus in providing the engine logistics support for the US Army fleet of UH-72 Lakota’s. Our team remains ready to support Airbus and the U.S. Army through proximity locations and continues to show the importance of our U.S. presence.”

Safran Helicopter Engines assembles, tests and supports several Arriel engine variants in Grand Prairie, including the Arriel 1E2 and the Arriel 2E. The Arriel engine has a solid reputation of reliability and footprint in the U.S., with more than 3,000 engines in service. The U.S. Army Arriel fleet has flown in excess of 2.5 million engine flight hours.

With power outputs ranging from 650 to over 1,000 shp, the Arriel family powers over 40 different rotorcraft. The Arriel is the best-selling helicopter engine in its class, with over 12,000 engines produced and over 50 million flight hours flown. An Arriel powered helicopter takes off every 15 seconds, every day.

The Arriel 2E engine, with a take-off power of 894 shp, has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in December 2012 (Picture source: Safran)