US Navy Awards Leonardo $176M for 32 TH-73A Helicopters

The US Navy has awarded Leonardo $176.47 million to supply 32 TH-73A helicopters and related support.

“Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., has been awarded a contract valued at $176.47 million for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, initial spares, support and dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services,” the company said in a statement Tuesday.

“TH-73A deliveries are scheduled to begin in calendar year 2020 and continue through calendar year 2024. Sundown for the 35-year-old TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters, which are becoming more difficult to maintain due to obsolescence and lack the appropriate cockpit avionics and aircraft performance capability, will begin in fiscal year 2022 and conclude in fiscal year 2024,” Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said.

The total contract value is $648.1M for the procurement of 130 aircraft. 

The new helicopter will meet advanced rotary wing and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard through 2050.  The TH-73A will be manufactured in United States with assembly taking place, through FAA Airworthiness certification, in the contractor’s FAA Part 21 facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the TH-73A, the contract includes initial spares, peculiar support equipment, flyaway kits, hoists, sling loads, data in excess of Commercial Form Fit Function (FFF) / Operations Maintenance Instructional Training (OMIT) Data, as well as ancillary instructor pilot & maintenance personnel training. The award is the culmination of a competitive source selection process supported by personnel from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA).