Will provide 95 HH-65 Dolphin re-engining kits to upgrade
Coast Guard helos
American Eurocopter, a subsidiary of Eurocopter and a business
unit of EADS North America, has signed a contract to provide
re-engining kits for 95 U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphins. The
contract was announced at the Grand Opening ceremonies for American
Eurocopter's new production facility in Columbus, MS.
The contract was signed with Lockheed Martin, a partner in
Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture of Lockheed
Martin and Northrop Grumman, and is part of the Integrated
Deepwater System (IDS) Program, a multi-year program to modernize
and replace the Coast Guard's aging ships and aircraft, and improve
command and control and logistics systems. The initial release
against this contract is $22M.
American Eurocopter
will supply re-engining kits, spare parts and technical
assistance/support. Turbomeca USA will provide the Arriel 2C2
turboshaft engine. The multi-year upgrade program for the U.S.
Coast Guard Helicopter fleet will significantly improve the
maritime service's operational capabilities.
"The U.S. Coast Guard is one of our most important customers and
we are totally committed to support this contract, which will
improve the HH-65's ability to meet the new homeland security
challenges," said Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter's President
and CEO.
This contract is in compliance with the Coast Guard's request
for immediate re-engining action to ensure safe and reliable
operations with its HH-65s. The first re-engined helicopter was
recently delivered to the Coast Guard and was completed in only 109
days.
The re-engining work is carried out at the Coast Guard Aircraft
Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC) in Elizabeth City, North
Carolina, where an American Eurocopter technical team has been
located for on-site support.
"The HH-65 re-engining
program was begun immediately in support of the Coast Guard's
requirement. We at EADS North America and American Eurocopter are
very pleased to provide the U.S. Coast Guard with maximum
helicopter resources to complete the re-engining on time," said
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO, EADS North America.
EADS North America companies constitute one of the largest
subcontractors to the Deepwater Program, supplying products and
services from several EADS divisions. In addition to American
Eurocopter's HH-65 modernization support, EADS CASA North America
is supplying the fleet of CN-235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The
Deepwater equipment replacement program demonstrates the
effectiveness of transatlantic agreements and is reflective of
EADS's long-term working relationship with Lockheed Martin and
Northrop Grumman, who lead the Deepwater Program effort in
partnership with the Coast Guard.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.02.24)
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