This medevac helicopter is the newest to enter the US military

24/7 Wall St. Outlook:

• The UH-72 Lakota is the newest aircraft to enter the US military
• It is typically used for missions such as medical evacuation, search and rescue, disaster relief, and even some homeland security operations
• The Lakota is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines that allow a top speed of nearly 170 mph.
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia

The UH-72 Lakota is one of the newest aircraft to enter the US military. It was first introduced in 2007 and is mainly intended for non-combat roles. Although the US military is not primarily known for its aircraft, the Lakota plays a number of important roles throughout the military’s operations. (These combat helicopters are the most widely used by the world’s militaries.)

Typically, the UH-72 Lakota is used for missions such as medical evacuation, search and rescue, disaster relief, and even some homeland security operations. It is manufactured by Airbus Helicopters and has gradually replaced older aircraft such as the UH-1 Iroquois and OH-58 Kiowa.

The Lakota is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 engines that allow a top speed of nearly 170 mph. Its maximum take-off weight is approximately 7,903 pounds and it can carry up to nine troops or two stretcher-bearers and medical crew in addition to its crew of two.

One of the main advantages of the UH-72 is its cost-effectiveness. With lower operating costs compared to fleet attack helicopters, it provides an ideal solution for the Army’s domestic needs. Consequently, it is the newest aircraft to be adopted by the US military, embracing economy as part of its operational efficiency. (That’s every aircraft in the US Air Force.)

24/7 Wall St. take a closer look at the aircraft in the Army fleet. To identify the newest aircraft in the US military, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the World Air Forces 2024 report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. I ordered these aircraft chronologically. We have also included additional data on aircraft type, top speed and armament.

Here’s a closer look at the US military’s newest aircraft currently in service:

Why are we covering this?

Understanding the combat aircraft used by the US military provides insight into joint military capabilities and defense strategies. Also, knowing what the US has in its arsenal further explains its military capabilities.

22. T-6D Texan

• Type: Training plane
• Year of introduction: 1936
• Producer: North American Aviation
• Active in the military: 4
• Maximum speed: 209 mph
• Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns

21. DC-3 (C-41A)

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1936
• Producer: Douglas planes
• Active in the military: 5
• Maximum speed: 237 mph
• Armament: N/A

20. CH-47 Chinook

• Type: Medium lift tandem rotor transport helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1962
• Producer: Boeing
• Active in the military: 510
• Maximum speed: 180 mph
• Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns

19. Super King Air

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1972
• Producer: Beechcraft
• Active in the military: 179
• Maximum speed: 348 mph
• Armament: N/A

18. Mil Mi-24 Hind

• Type: Attack helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1973
• Producer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Active in the military: 1
• Maximum speed: 208 mph
• Armament: 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun, 23mm Cannon, 30mm Cannon, Anti-Tank Missiles, Missile Pods, Machine Gun Pods, Cannon Cannons, Conventional Bombs

17. Beech C-12 Huron

• Type: Special mission aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1974
• Producer: Beechcraft
• Active in the military: 3
• Maximum speed: 332 mph
• Armament: N/A

16. Wed-8/17 Balance

• Type: Transport helicopter / gunship with medium lift
• Year of introduction: 1977
• Producer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• Active in the military: 10
• Maximum speed: 158 mph
• Armament: 23 mm guns, 7.62 mm machine guns, rockets, anti-tank rockets

15. DHC-7 Dash 7 (EO-5C)

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1978
• Producer: de Havilland
• Active in the military: 3
• Maximum speed: 317 mph
• Armament: N/A

14. S-70 Black Hawk

• Type: Medium lift multi-mission helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1979
• Producer: Sikorsky
• Active in the military: 2,299
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm Machine Guns, Hellfire Missiles, 12.7mm Gatling Guns, M134 Gatling Guns, Missile Pods, 30mm Chain Cannon

13. Challenger 604/650

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1980
• Producer: Bombardier Aerospace
• Active in the military: 3
• Maximum speed: 565 mph
• Armament: N/A

12. C-26 Metroliner

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1980
• Producer: Fairchild Airplanes
• Active in the military: 13
• Maximum speed: 331 mph
• Armament: N/A

11. AH/MH-6 Small Bird

• Type: Light attack helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1980
• Producer: Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Active in the military: 47
• Maximum speed: 175 mph
• Armament: 30mm M230 Chaingun, 12.7mm GAU-19 Gatling Guns, 7.62mm Miniguns, M261 Missiles, Hellfire Missiles, TOW Anti-Tank Missiles, Stinger Missiles

10. Gulfstream C-20H

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1983
• Producer: Gulfstream Aerospace
• Active in the military: 1
• Maximum speed: 582 mph
• Armament: N/A

9. Cessna 208 Caravan

• Type: Utility airplane with turboprops
• Year of introduction: 1984
• Producer: Cessna Aircraft / Textron Aviation
• Active in the military: 1
• Maximum speed: 214 mph
• Armament: N/A

8. dash 8

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1984
• Producer: de Havilland / Bombardier Aerospace
• Active in the military: 9
• Maximum speed: 317 mph
• Armament: N/A

7. AH-64 Apache

• Type: Two-seat attack helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1986
• Producer: Boeing / McDonnell Douglas / Hughes
• Active in the military: 824
• Maximum speed: 183 mph
• Armament: 30mm Autocannon, Hellfire Missiles, Hydra Missiles, Stinger Missiles, Sidewinder Missiles, Sidearm Missiles

6. H125 Fennec

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1990
• Producer: Eurocopter / Airbus helicopters
• Active in the military: 1
• Maximum speed: 152 mph
• Armament: 20mm GIAT autocannon, 12.7mm machine gun pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods, FZ220 rockets, BMD-71 TOW rockets

5. Bell 407

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year of introduction: 1996
• Producer: Bell Helicopter
• Active in the military: 5
• Maximum speed: 162 mph
• Armament: N/A

4. C-27 Spartan

• Type: Medium-lift tactical transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 1997
• Producer: Leonardo-Finmeccanica / Boeing
• Active in the military: 7
• Maximum speed: 373 mph
• Armament: N/A

3. Grob G120

• Type: Training plane
• Year of introduction: 1999
• Producer: Aircraft Grob
• Active in the military: 6
• Maximum speed: 199 mph
• Armament: N/A

2. Citation Encore/Ultra

• Type: Transport aircraft
• Year of introduction: 2004
• Producer: Cessna aircraft
• Active in the military: 28
• Maximum speed: 490 mph
• Armament: N/A

1. UH-72 Lakota

• Type: Light utility helicopter
• Year of introduction: 2007
• Producer: Eurocopter / Airbus helicopters
• Active in the military: 478
• Maximum speed: 167 mph
• Armament: N/A

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