The US Army replies to AgustaWestland after the lawsuit of recent days. The anglo italian company alleged that the proposed contract is in violation of rules intended to promote competition

"We have not made a decision yet." So says the US Army, in response to the lawsuit by AgustaWestland intended to block a contract worth $800 million for the acquisition by the Pentagon of 115 UH-72 Lakota helicopters, the military version of the EC145. The intentions of the US Defense are to withdraw U.S. Army's fleet of OH-58 and TH-67 used for training missions by transferring part of the Lakotas currently in service (engaged in non combat missions) and buy more rotorcrafts from Airbus Helicopters. The new UH-72's would be assembled in the plant of Columbus, Missouri and would be deployed at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

US ARMY: "FINAL DECISION NOT BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY 2015"

In a statement, the United States Army have explained how the final decision will be issued not before the beginning of next year. The point of the declaration of the US Army is that, at present, the methods of acquisition have not yet been determined. 

The lawsuit filed by AgustaWestland regards the method of acquisition of helicopters. According to the Anglo-Italian company, the Pentagon would have violated the rules requiring bidding among competing projects. In the case of contract for UH-72, no notice would have been issued, preventing their competitors to participate. According to the subsidiary of Finmeccanica, helicopters such as the AW119Kx and the AW109 would be much more suitable to replace the Bell TH-67 and OH-58 Kiowa.

The case, however, remains under the scrutiny of US Court of Federal Claims in Washington, who will review the request for AgustaWestland to block the contract in the coming weeks.