AgustaWestland Philadelphia to produce 36 training helicopters TH-73A for US Navy.

According to a press release published on November 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. a 171 million USD modification to the previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for the US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of an additional 36 TH-73A training helicopters, with work expected to be completed in December 2022 in Philadelphia, PA.
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TH-73A training helicopter will be used by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. (Picture source Leonardo)

In January 2020 Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at 176 million USD for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, initial spares, support and dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services. The TH-73A will be used to train the next generation of student aviators from the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

The TH-73A is a military training variant of the AW119 Koala manufactured by the Italian company Leonardo since 2016. It features a Genesys Aerosystems glass cockpit, selected by the US Navy on 13 January 2020 to replace its fleet of TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters; marketed by Leonardo as TH-119. It first flew on 20 December 2018

The TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) brings the training tools needed to produce the next generations of Rotary and Tilt-rotor pilots for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and selected allied nations with current and relevant training platforms.

The TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) improves pilot training and skills by using current cockpit technologies and modernized training curriculum that reflect the capabilities in the current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard inventory. Using a skills-based approach to training, with just-in-time methodology, incorporating modern technology, AHTS will ensure Rotary Wing Aviators are produced at a higher quality, more efficiently, ready to meet the challenges faced in the fleet.

The TH-73A AHTS is expected to be in service for approximately 30 years. It is the replacement for 35-year-old TH-57Bs and TH-57Cs, which will begin sundown in FY22 and concludes in the FY24 timeframe.