Description:
The UH-72A Lakota, formerly known as the UH-145, is a customized version of Eurocopter's EC145 aircraft developed to meet the US Army requirements for a next-generation Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). LUH program was intended to replace the UH-1 and OH-58 helicopters within the US Army and the National Guard. The US Army selected the EADS North America's UH-145 solution on 30 June 2006. The initial requirement was for up to 352 UH-145s with an estimated program lifecycle of $3 billion. The current program scope is for 322 UH-72As worth $2 billion through 2015.
EADS North America team comprises American Eurocopter handling the helicopter's production, assembly and delivery; Sikorsky Aircraft responsible for contractor logistics support (CLS); WestWind Technologies for systems integration, engineering support and program management expertise; and CAE USA which supplies the UH-72A/UH-145 cockpit procedures trainers. The UH-145 assembly line will be located at Columbus, Mississippi, in a 92,000 square feet facility. EADS North America delivered the first Lakota to the US Army on December 11, 2006.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 1, Passengers 9
Dimensions: Height 3.5 m, Length 10.2 m, Width 1.8 m
Weights: Max Weight 3,550 kg (7,826 lb), Payload 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 5,485 m (17,995 ft), Cruise Speed 66 mps (237 kph), Endurance 4 hours, Max Range 700 km (378 nm), Top Speed 77 mps (278 kph)
United States of America / 350 
US Army (345) and US Navy Test Pilot School (5)