Leonardo today delivered the first TH-73A training helicopter to the US Navy during an official ceremony at its Philadelphia plant in the USA. The event was attended by Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander of the US Air Force as well as the US Pacific Forces; Rear Admiral Gregory Harris, Division Director of the Air Force (N98); and Captain Holly Shoger, Program Manager for Naval Flight Training Systems. Also present were the Managing Director of Leonardo's Helicopter Division Gian Piero Cutillo, the Member of the House of Representatives of Congress Donald Norcross and the Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney.
The overall requirement is for 130 helicopters with expected deliveries through 2024. The first contract worth nearly $ 177 million awarded in early 2020 involved the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, along with an initial package of spare parts, support and dedicated equipment as well as training services for pilots and maintenance technicians. In November 2020, the US Department of Defense exercised options for an additional 36 helicopters worth $ 171 million.
