Colorado National Guard is first in nation to receive modernized helicopter capability

AURORA, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado National Guard is the first National Guard to receive modernized helicopter capability.

On Aug. 4, the Colorado National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora received the first two of 18 UH-72B Lakota helicopters purchased by the Department of Defense exclusively for the U.S. Army National Guard.

According to a release from the Guard, nine states will receive two each of the B models based on their previous UH-72A utilization, domestic operations support mission sets, and environmental factors.

“The Colorado National Guard will utilize the new platform primarily for counter-drug and search and rescue in Colorado,” State Army Aviation Officer U.S. Army Col. William Gentle, Colorado Army National Guard, said. “The increased aircraft capabilities over the UH-72A in support of domestic operations will help lessen the load on our UH-60 fleet.”

The new helicopters will allow the Colorado Hoist Rescue Team to operate at higher elevations in Colorado's mountains.