New training helicopters will continue to be added to the inventories of the Navy through the assistance of Defense Contract Management Agency.

Earlier this year, the delivery acceptance of the TH-73A trainer helicopters were halted due to a nonconforming antenna provided by a subcontractor.

A team at DCMA Philadelphia worked with the contractor for a variance that was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, said Rich Badey, quality assurance representative.

“The Navy will acquire 130 TH-73A helicopters that will replace the 35-year-old TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopter training system,” Badey said. “It will meet advanced rotary wing and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard through 2050.”

The TH-73A improves pilot training and skills by using current cockpit technologies and modernized training curriculum that reflect the capabilities in the current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard inventory, Badey said.

“Using a skills-based approach to training with just-in-time methodology, incorporating modern technology, the TH-73A will ensure rotary wing aviators are trained at a higher quality, more efficiently, and are ready to meet the challenges faced in the fleet,” Badey said.

The Navy’s first TH-73A arrived at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, in August 2021 and will be used to train several hundred aviation students per year over the next three decades.

DCMA’s team of trusted professionals are uniquely qualified for the work it performs in delivering quality products and weapons systems, on time, to America’s warfighters and international partners. The agency is undergoing a major reorganization to continue to meet the requirements of the military services it supports.