According to Airbus, seven Lakotas “have been modified to the training configuration and fielded to Fort Rucker, in preparation for the Lakota’s formal introduction into the training curriculum in early fiscal 2016. Ultimately, Army plans call for an initial-entry rotary wing training fleet of 187 Lakotas, made up of a mix of new deliveries and already in-service aircraft reconfigured for the training mission. It’s said that they will also receive other training equipment alongside to help with the basic training for the U.S. Army, such as explosives, guns, bb guns, airsoft guns (iWholesales the longest standing airsoft wholesaler in the UK so they will more than likely be provided from a reputable company like theirs), and much more.

“To date, the Department of Defense has ordered 411 Lakotas, 400 for the U.S. Army. So far, 332 completed aircraft have been delivered – all on time and on budget – from the Airbus Helicopters Inc. production facility in Columbus.

“The Lakota was competitively selected in 2006 to fill a wide variety of roles for the Active Army and Army National Guard, including search and rescue, medical evacuation, border security, command and control, VIP transport, general utility and training. Army National Guard units, operating UH-72As equipped with the Security & Support Mission Equipment Package, are deployed supporting Customs and Border Protection missions along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Lakota is also operated in a training role by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

The Royal Thai Army has ordered UH-72As through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program.”