AgustaWestland, Inc. (AWI) headquartered in Reston, Virginia and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3/IS) of Waco, Texas, today announced their partnership and product entry in the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) competition at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual meeting in Washington D.C. Prime contractor AWI and principal partner L-3/IS will offer the US139 to the Army for LUH. The US139 is a customized, non-developmental variant of the modern, FAA certified, AB139 twin-engine helicopter now in service worldwide. It has the most spacious, functional and flexible cabin in its class, capable of carrying 15 passengers or 4 stretchers with 6 passengers. The US139 is capable of cruising in excess of 165 knots with a useful load of more than 6,000 lbs — designed from its inception as the replacement to the UH-1 “Huey.”
L-3/IS will perform final assembly and customization of Government specific avionics for the US139 helicopter at their Waco, Texas location utilizing Lean Manufacturing/Six Sigma facilities designed and laid out for this effort. In addition, L-3/IS will provide Contractor Logistic Support for
the US139 LUH fleet.
L-3/IS has modified more than 15,000 aircraft of more than 125 types. It provides contractor logistics support for approximately 40 percent of the U.S. Army aviation fleet as well as a majority of the rotary-wing training platforms used across the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. L-3 Integrated Systems also provides depot — and intermediate-level maintenance for Army National Guard and Department of Homeland Security Customs & Border Protection rotary-wing helicopters.
AgustaWestland has assembled a world-class industrial team to produce, deliver and support the US139. Supporting AWI and L-3/IS in this program are two of the industries finest major systems suppliers: Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and Honeywell. P&WC will supply the US139 with its powerful, reliable PT6C-67C turboshaft engines equipped with a Digital Engine Electronic Control. Honeywell will provide the Primus Epic integrated avionics system for the US139.
“We are excited to offer the US139 to the Army for its demanding LUH mission,” said Stephen C. Moss, CEO of AgustaWestland North America. “The US139 is the clear choice for the LUH mission — it’s a 21st century helicopter for a 21st century mission.”
In addition to its outstanding performance, capability and size, the US139 is compliant to the new demanding FAR/JAR 29 standards. It also offers true Category A Performance certification, meaning that it’s capable of flying away at max gross weight on only one engine. The US139 has tremendous growth
potential — able to exceed today’s requirements with the flexibility to meet the demands of the future.
“Team US139 clearly has a superior platform,” said Ed Boyington, Vice President of Federal Programs for L-3/IS. “But in addition to a terrific aircraft, we also have a tremendous team with many years of experience servicing the Army customer. Joining the only fully compliant aircraft with the most capable team in the business is a winning combination.”
Together this US139 team offers the most capable, responsive, survivable, reliable and supportable LUH helicopter to the US Army.
About Team US139
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is one of the largest helicopter companies in the world. The company offers an unrivalled range of helicopters and rotorcraft capabilities, training and support solutions to satisfy the requirements of civil and military customers. AgustaWestland has its primary operations in Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.
AgustaWestland has 50 years of experience in the U.S. aerospace market and is the contractor of choice for many important programs. The company’s worldwide production of the Koala A119 light helicopter for the civil market occurs at its facility in Philadelphia, PA. AW also supplies the US Coast Guard with its highly touted armed MH-68A “Sting Ray” (A109 Power) HITRON helicopters. AW is best known in the US for its role in winning the competition to make the next Marine One Presidential helicopter — the US variant of the company’s successful EH101 medium-lift helicopter.
To learn more about AgustaWestland, please visit the company’s web site at http://www.AgustaWestland.com.
L-3/IS is an internationally recognized system integration organization specializing in the modernization and maintenance of aircraft of all sizes, as well as the study, design, development, and integration of special mission systems for military and commercial applications. The company has modified more than 15,000 different aircraft of more than 125 types. Headquartered in Greenville, Texas, L-3/IS operates from multiple sites in Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama and Australia.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) is a leading provider of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems, secure communications systems, aircraft modernization, training, and government services. The company is a leading merchant supplier of a broad array of high technology products, including guidance and navigation, sensors, scanners, fuzes, data links, propulsion systems, simulators, avionics, electro optics, satellite communications, electrical power equipment, encryption, signal intelligence, antennas and microwave components. L-3 also supports a variety of Homeland Security initiatives with products and services. Its customers include the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, selected U.S. Government intelligence agencies and aerospace prime contractors.
To learn more about L-3 Communications, please visit the company’s web site at http://www.L-3Com.com.
