Robinson to supply at least 150 R66 helicopters for US Army training contract

Robinson Helicopter has confirmed it will supply at least 150 of its R66 light-single helicopters to M1 Support Services as part of a new US Army training contract, with the total potentially reaching 200 aircraft depending on how the program develops.

M1 Support Services was named winner of the Army's Flight School Next initiative on 13 August, a contract valued at up to $10 billion that could run for as long as 26 years. The program aims to overhaul how the Army trains new helicopter pilots.

Under the new structure, primary flight instruction will shift from an Army-owned fleet of Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakotas, operated by multiple vendors, to a contractor-owned and contractor-operated model built around the Robinson R66. Training and sustainment will be handled under a single contract. According to the Army, the Lakota's heavy automation has hindered basic flying instruction, contributing to safety issues later in pilots' careers.

Robinson chief executive David Smith said the 150-aircraft minimum reflects the output needs of the new program, which is expected to train between 800 and 1,500 new pilots each year, up from roughly 1,250 under the current system. He noted the fleet will need continual replenishment as airframes accumulate flight hours, meaning far more than 150 aircraft will ultimately be built over the life of the contract.

Smith also said retired training aircraft, even those with around 8,000 hours of military use, are expected to find buyers in the secondhand market.

First deliveries of the training-configured R66s to M1 are scheduled for spring 2026, with the initial group of students expected to begin instruction in late 2027 or early 2028.