Rotorcraft
Appeals Court Clears Path for More Army Lakotas
Procuring and sustaining another aircraft type would have led to significant cost and delay issues, according to the Army.

The United States Court of Appeals on January 25 overturned a 2016 federal claims court decision that challenged the U.S. Army's authority to expand its Airbus Helicopters UH-72A fleet without competitive bidding. The original complaint was brought by Leonardo unit AgustaWestland North America, which has repeatedly challenged the Army's decision to acquire Lakotas, dating back to 2006. The Army currently operates more than 400 twin-engine UH-72As for a variety of missions, including primary pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.