Airbus has delivered the first of 18 new variant UH-72 Lakota helicopters for use by the U.S. Army National Guard.

The proposal based on the Defiant X concept offers a “low-risk, transformational capability that delivers on an Army critical modernization priority,” according to a joint statement released by the companies.

GE said Sept. 7 that it has begun tests of a second, full-scale, flight-weight XA100 three-stream adaptive combat engine, following evaluation of the first prototype earlier this year.

FlytX is being flown onboard a Guimbal Cabri piston-engine helicopter for the trials being undertaken in the South of France.

Jean-Brice Dumont, the newly appointed head of Airbus Military Aircraft, said several other sales campaigns for the four-engined airlifter were not far from conclusion.

The partners will back Aeralis’ effort to fly a pre-production example of its modular training aircraft before 2025. 

A joint Franco-German air transport squadron that will fly the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules has been formally established in a Sept. 3 ceremony.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, demand for helicopter services has remained steady in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Bell officials.