AgustaWestland bags $171 to Manufacture 36 TH-73A Helicopters for US Navy

AgustaWestland, a part of Italian Aerospace major Leonardo, is awarded a $171,047,763 modification contract from the Pentagon to manufacture 36 TH-73A training helicopters.

This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of 36 TH-73A aircraft in support of the Advanced Helicopter Training System program. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $171,047,763 will be obligated at time of award.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity, a Pentagon announcement said.

This is the second major contract for AgustaWestland in less than a year. In January, the Navy announced ordered $176.5 million contract to purchase an initial batch of 32 helicopters, as well as spare parts, ancillary equipment, and support services, with deliveries continuing through 2021.

The US Navy expects to eventually buy up to 130 such helicopter in a deal that could be worth up to $648 million.

The TH-73As choppers are replacing the Bell TH-57B/C Sea Rangers, which have been in service with the US Navy since the 1980s.v TH-73A is the US Navy designation for AgustaWestland/Leonardo’s TH-119, based on the commercial AW119.