The US Department of Defense has announced the award of a $159m firm-fixed price modification to AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp.

This contract is in addition to the previous two awarded contracts supporting the US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System.

This modification exercises options for production and delivery of 36 TH-73A helicopters Lot III and initial spares to the additional 68 on order.

In January 2020 Leonardo via AgustaWestland Philadelphia corp was awarded a $176m contract for 32 TH-73A helicopters. Within this contract was spares, support, dedicated equipment, and pilot and maintenance training.

Adding to the contract given in January, later in November 2020, a second lot of 36 TH-73As were ordered via a $171m contract modification. The Lot III contract will take the total of helicopters to be delivered to 104.

The total requirement by the US DOD is for 130 aircraft. The TH-73A will train the next generation of rotary-wing student aviators for the US Navy, USMC, and Coast Guard.