U.S. Department of Defense exercises option for 26 TH-73A “Thrasher” helicopters

Leonardo welcomes the announcement made by the U.S. Department of Defense to award AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. a 110.5 million USD firm-fixed price modification to the previously awarded contract for the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 26 TH-73A Lot IV aircraft in support of the program for the Navy. The helicopters will be produced in Philadelphia. Work is expected to be completed in December 2024.

In January 2020, Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a firm fixed-price contract valued at $176 million for the production and delivery of an initial 32 TH-73A helicopters, along with spares, support, dedicated equipment and specific pilot/maintenance training services. In November 2020, a second lot of 36 aircraft were ordered through a $171 million USD contract modification and in December 2021, a third lot of 36 aircraft were ordered through a 159.4 million USD contract modification. The TH-73A, made solely at Leonardo’s FAA-certified Part 21 Production line in Philadelphia, PA, will train the next generation of student aviators from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. In September of 2022, the first twelve students began training on the TH-73A, now nicknamed the “Thrasher” by the U.S. Navy. And in November 2022, the first of those students completed their inaugural solo flights.