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Date
State
Utah
Category
ARNG
Type Draft
Change Resolution
State Association First Name
Bruce
State Association Last Name
Weaver
Resolution No.
1
Item No
C
Fiscal Year
2028
State Association Email
State Association Phone Number
8016440336
Relating To
The Modernization and Sustainment of Army National Guard Aviation
SME Email
SME Phone
8014505429
Task Force
Aviation
State Association Title
Legislative Trustee
Proposal Statement
Modernization of the Lakota fleet through continued procurement of the UH-72B and technical improvements to the Mission Equipment Package (MEP), with procurement of MEP for the entire National Guard Lakota fleet in support of the National Security Strategy/National Defense Strategy.
Recommendation Information
The Army National Guard UH-72A Lakota fleet is approaching the midpoint of its service life and faces increasing operational demands. The UH-72A variant has limited power margins and capability constraints when operating with modern mission equipment in high-temperature, high-density altitude, or high-payload environments. Continued procurement of the UH-72B provides a modernized replacement platform with improved power, avionics, and operational capability to sustain the LUH mission set before current aircraft approach end-of-life maintenance and flight hour limitations.
Additionally, the Army National Guard requires modernization of all UH-72 variants with standardized Mission Equipment Packages to effectively execute assigned domestic operations. These missions include border security, homeland defense in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and counter-drug support operations. Required mission equipment capabilities should include interoperable communications systems compatible with civilian and military agencies, advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) day and night sensor systems, integrated moving map and sensor fusion capabilities for target tracking, real-time data transmission and video relay, high-intensity search lighting, and other mission systems identified by the program management office as necessary to support National Guard domestic operations. Modernization of the LUH fleet and associated mission equipment will ensure the Army National Guard maintains a safe, capable, and interoperable aviation platform to support domestic response, interagency coordination, and national security missions across the United States.
Strategic Justification
The Army National Guard provides critical aviation support to federal, state, and local agencies for domestic operations including border security, homeland defense, disaster response, and counter-drug missions. The UH-72 Lakota fleet serves as the National Guard’s primary Light Utility Helicopter platform for these missions; however, the UH-72A variant faces power and capability limitations when operating with modern mission equipment and in demanding environmental conditions. Continued procurement of the UH-72B and modernization of mission equipment across the entire UH-72 fleet will ensure the Army National Guard maintains a safe, interoperable, and technologically capable aviation platform. This modernization will improve coordination with federal and civilian law enforcement agencies, enhance situational awareness, and sustain the National Guard’s ability to respond rapidly to domestic security and emergency response missions across the United States.
Additionally, the Army National Guard requires modernization of all UH-72 variants with standardized Mission Equipment Packages to effectively execute assigned domestic operations. These missions include border security, homeland defense in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and counter-drug support operations. Required mission equipment capabilities should include interoperable communications systems compatible with civilian and military agencies, advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) day and night sensor systems, integrated moving map and sensor fusion capabilities for target tracking, real-time data transmission and video relay, high-intensity search lighting, and other mission systems identified by the program management office as necessary to support National Guard domestic operations. Modernization of the LUH fleet and associated mission equipment will ensure the Army National Guard maintains a safe, capable, and interoperable aviation platform to support domestic response, interagency coordination, and national security missions across the United States.
Strategic Justification
The Army National Guard provides critical aviation support to federal, state, and local agencies for domestic operations including border security, homeland defense, disaster response, and counter-drug missions. The UH-72 Lakota fleet serves as the National Guard’s primary Light Utility Helicopter platform for these missions; however, the UH-72A variant faces power and capability limitations when operating with modern mission equipment and in demanding environmental conditions. Continued procurement of the UH-72B and modernization of mission equipment across the entire UH-72 fleet will ensure the Army National Guard maintains a safe, interoperable, and technologically capable aviation platform. This modernization will improve coordination with federal and civilian law enforcement agencies, enhance situational awareness, and sustain the National Guard’s ability to respond rapidly to domestic security and emergency response missions across the United States.
