Leonardo has received a $159.4 million order from U.S. Department of Defense for an additional 36 TH-73A U.S. Navy training helicopters. The order will take the TH-73A fleet up to 104 aircraft.
The Navy eventually plans to acquire 130 TH-73As by 2024. The most recent order is the company’s third. In January 2020 Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $176 million for the production and delivery of an initial 32 TH-73A helicopters, along with spares, support, dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services. In November 2020, the second lot of 36 aircraft were ordered through a $171 million contract modification.
The TH-73A will be used to train the next generation of student aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard and is manufactured at Leonardo’s FAA-certified Part 21 production line in Philadelphia. The helicopter is based on the AW119Kx turbine single and features Genesys Aerosystems avionics, a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B engine, an adjustable observer seat that provides a full view of the cockpit, reinforced skids with removable shoes, and the ability for “hot” pressure refueling without shutting the engine down.