Leonardo wins competition to produce Navy's TH-73 training helo

The Navy today awarded Leonardo Helicopters a $176 million contract to produce and deliver the service's next training helicopter, TH-73A, according to a Defense Department statement.

AgustaWestland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leonardo Helicopters, was awarded a contract "for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A aircraft, initial spares, peculiar support equipment, flyaway kits, hoists, sling loads, data in excess of commercial form fit function/operations maintenance instructional training data as well as ancillary instructor pilot and maintenance personnel training," according to the statement.

Bell and Airbus also submitted bids for the competition.

Leonardo said last September it planned to build an aircraft maintenance facility near Naval Air Station Whiting Field in the Florida panhandle contingent on winning the competition.