Leonardo celebrated a significant milestone with the 100th delivery of the TH-73A helicopter Thrasher to the United States Navy on September 17, during a ceremony in Northeast Philadelphia. Attendees included Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces/commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Lieutenant General Bradford Gering, deputy commandant, U.S. Marine Corps Aviation; along with more than XNUMX dignitaries representing government, military, and nonprofit institutions.
In early 2020, the Navy selected Leonardo's TH-73A, an advanced IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) certified version of the commercial AW119Kx model, to replace its aging TH-57B/C fleet. Sea ranger, as the primary training helicopter to train the next generation of rotary and tilt-rotor pilots for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and select allied nations.
"We are proud to continue our contribution to the Navy, which aims to ensure the highest level of quality in the training of future naval aviators.", said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters. "We are committed to supporting this capability with our technology, to ensure that our partners' needs are met as frontline capabilities and operational requirements continue to evolve.".
"We are thrilled to deliver the 100th TH-73 to our valued partners at the U.S. Navy.", said Clyde Woltman, CEO of Leonardo Helicopters US “This production milestone is a testament to the collaboration and hard work between our organizations, and we remain focused on preparing the fleet for operational readiness for decades to come.”
The TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training System represents a major modernization in the Navy’s helicopter training technology from analog to digital avionics and is expected to serve the U.S. Navy through 2050 and beyond. This advanced training capability will help maintain the highest standards of military flight training with up-to-date and relevant training platforms. The TH-73A will facilitate the development of higher quality and more proficient naval aviators ready to meet the fleet’s operational challenges.
"The TH-73 Thrasher's advanced capability is a great addition to our warfighter training.", said Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces. "This means our new Naval Aviators will arrive ready to preserve peace, respond to crises and win war."
The TH-73A’s advanced design, based on the IFR-certified variant of the commercial AW119Kx model, distinguishes it as the ideal choice for initial flight training, with the ability to support advanced operational maneuvers. The helicopter is powered by a robust Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engine and features dual hydraulic and safety systems, ensuring reliability and safety in all phases of flight operations. With modern digital avionics provided by Genesys Aerosystems, the Thrasher excels in every maneuver within the Navy’s training program, expanding training programs and facilitating a seamless transition from fundamental flight tasks to complex operational training.
Training by the numbers As of mid-August, the Navy's advanced helicopter training program included more than 317 aspiring naval aviators (SNA), of which 185, or 58 percent, are currently enrolled in the TH-73A training curriculum. That percentage is expected to reach 66 percent when the second of three squadrons completes the transition this fall. The third and final squadron, theHelicopter Training Squadron (HT) 28, is expected to begin transitioning to the TH-73 by the end of this year.
Additionally, the commitment to flight training remains constant, as demonstrated by the safe and effective execution of more than 43.000 flight hours in support of the Navy's training needs. To support the dynamic training environment, 133 instructors from the Air Wing Training (TW) 5 were qualified on the TH-73A, including 86 conversion instructors and 47 new instructors in training (IUT). Many more IUTs continue to hone their skills within the Helicopter Instructor Training Unit. The program also benefits from the expertise of eight maintenance contracted functional check pilots, qualified in the program’s direct support model. To date, more than 200 SNAs have completed the TH-73A curriculum and become Naval Aviators.
