COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) -- EADS North America has rolled out its news Armed Aerial Scout helicopter.
The new aircraft is built on the same platform as the Lakota helicopter currently built at American Eurocopter in Columbus.
Company officials say during a voluntary flight demonstration in the end of September, the helicopter was able to fly at altitudes of up to 14,000 feet and pilots met or exceeded Army helicopter performance and handling standards normally assessed at sea level.
The helicopter was also taken for test flights by Army pilots at four military installations who currently use aerial scout aircraft.
The AAS-72x is only display at Association of the U. S. Army annual expo in Washington, D. C. this week.
Company officials say they plan to build the new aircraft in Columbus.
