EADS and Lockheed Martin have teamed up to propose an armed version of EADS’s UH-72A light utility helicopter in a US Army helicopter competition.

The multi-billion-dollar proposal is for a relaunched version of the US Army’s helicopter competition following the Pentagon’s cancellation of a $6.2bn programme led by Textron‘s Bell Helicopter unit last year, after costs ran over budget.

The partnership will propose helicopters based on the commercial helicopter, Eurocopter EC145, with Lockheed in charge of integrating the weapons systems.

The army requires about 500 helicopters that can operate at 6,000ft and at 95°F.