EADS North America underscores its airlift, target drone, medical care and services capabilities at the Army Association’s Annual Meeting

EADS North America’s ability to meet the U.S. Army’s evolving mission requirements will be highlighted at the 2008 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the AUSA (Association of the U.S. Army), being held October 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

The company’s 1,500 sq. ft. exhibit stand (Hall A, #1145) is dominated by a scale model of the company’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, which is being supplied to active Army, Navy and Army National Guard units throughout the U.S.   More than 350 Lakotas are expected to be acquired for operation in homeland security, MEDEVAC, VIP, support and logistics operations, with the UH-72A’s U.S. production capability reaching more than four aircraft monthly at the company’s Columbus, Mississippi facility located at the Golden Triangle Airport industrial complex.
                                                                                                              
The Light Utility Helicopter contract was awarded to EADS North America in June 2006, and the UH-72A’s service introduction was one of the most rapid in the service’s history. The company has delivered more than 40 helicopters to date.

EADS North America’s AUSA exhibit booth also features a full-scale cross-section representation of the EADS A400M Loadmaster multi-role airlifter, which is tailored to meet the Army’s Transformation CONOPS (concept of operations) with the aircraft’s greater range, soft/short airfield capability and jet-like cruise airspeeds.  

Designed to perform the complete array of theater airlift missions from airland to airdrop, the A400M will be capable of carrying a wide variety of payloads (including the Stryker, Future Combat System, USMC Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) directly into the theater of operations from strategic, operational, or tactical distances.

The A400M is powered by four 11,000 shp. turboprop engines, and has a speed range of 100-300 kts., with an operational ceiling of 40,000 sq. ft. At approximately twice the capability of a C-130 and three quarters that of a C-17, the A400M’s large cargo hold accommodates outsized loads of up to 81,400 lbs. To date, EADS has booked 192 orders from NATO countries and other allies, ensuring a sustained production capacity over the long term.

EADS North America’s TransHospital mobile medical care system is highlighted as well on the company’s AUSA exhibit stand. TransHospital is being evaluated by the U.S. Army for its Future Medical Shelter System (FMSS) requirement, and is composed of rugged hardwall shelters and inflatable softwall units, which are assembled together to create operational systems that meet specific mission applications.

More than 500 TransHospital shelter units have been delivered by EADS for use by the German Army, Air Force and Navy; the Spanish Air Force; Singapore Navy; United Arab Emirates Army, and Slovenian Army.   They have been used by NATO forces and allied nations in Afghanistan, Serbia and elsewhere, and were deployed for disaster relief to the U.S. Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and to Indonesia after the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Also included on the EADS North America AUSA exhibit stand are the DT35 and DT45 jet-powered target drones, which replicate a range of airborne threats in training scenarios for missile defense crews.   EADS North America has delivered a complete DT35/DT45 system to the Army for operational evaluation in the training of missile defense crews against aerial threats – consisting of 10 EADS DT35 and four DT45 subscale aerial targets, a Robonic catapult launcher and two ground control stations, as well as spares, support equipment and training.

The DT35 and DT45 are in continuous production for NATO and allied military forces, with an output capacity of up to 225 units annually.

EADS North America’s Fairchild Controls business unit is displaying its 54-mm. compressor at the AUSA convention. This system is used on Army Apache Attack Helicopter and has been selected for the new U.S. Presidential executive transport helicopter.

About EADS North America
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $9 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 190,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.