Published: December 17, 2008 06:48 pm      

Eurocopter marks milestone in Army contract

COLUMBUS — American Eurocopter Corp. has delivered the 50th and 51st Lakota helicopter to the U.S. Army.

AEC on Tuesday handed over two UH-72A helicopters to officials from the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., during a ceremony at the company’s assembly facility in Lowndes County.

Company officials say they will deliver 35 Lakotas — designed to take the place of the OH-58 and UH-1 helicopters — this year and have a goal of getting 45 sent out next year.

The Lakota which is based on Eurocopter’s EC-145 civilian aircraft is now in service at military bases in eight states, including one in Tupelo.

A total of 239 helicopters are scheduled for delivery through 2014.

AEC is a division of EADS North America.