With the U.S. Army contract under its belt, Airbus Helicopters is now setting its sights on the Navy helicopter training program. The Navy is currently using Bell 206-derived TH-57 helicopter trainers and looking to replace them in the years to come. Airbus is pitching the twin-engine H135 as the Navy’s new helicopter trainer. Bell has proposed the modern Bell 407GXi, and Leonardo is promoting the TH-119.
“The H135 is smaller than the UH-72A, but still has two engines and a modern glass cockpit,” Tumpak said. “As a result, it is operationally similar to the larger helicopters that the Navy has in service.”