The US Army is working to recover a three-month delay in the Bell ARH-70A Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) programme, while procurement of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is on hold following protests from AgustaWestland and MD Helicopters.
Brig Gen Bill Phillips, deputy programme executive officer, aviation, says the delay in the ARH's first flight, accomplished on 20 July, was caused by "paperwork issues" at Bell, including the late release of drawings. The army plans to conduct a limited user test of the ARH-70 in the first quarter of 2007, he says. Citing the delay, US Congress has moved to cut funding for the 368-aircraft programme.
US Government Accountability Office investigation of the LUH protests is to be completed by 1 November, but plans to acquire an initial eight Eurocopter UH-72A helicopters this year are now in jeopardy.
AgustaWestland and MD Helicopters have objected to the selection of Eurocopter's EC145 over their respective AW139 and MD Explorer for the 322-aircraft LUH programme (Flight International, 11-17 July).
Source: Flight International
