Feature story Texas deploys Army National Guard UH-72A Lakota helicopters to the U.S.–Mexican border

April 15, 2010

The role of U.S. Army UH-72A Lakotas in homeland security has been further expanded with Texas’ deployment of the EADS North America-built Light Utility Helicopter to support heightened security efforts along the state’s border with Mexico.

As part of Governor Rick Perry’s “spillover violence contingency plan” – which was activated in March – UH-72As from the Texas National Guard have been assigned to operate between Brownsville and El Paso, helping local law enforcement and other agencies deter and detect crime along the Texas-Mexico border.

The Lakotas, along with other National Guard rotary-wing aircraft, have been assigned several operational roles, including aerial surveillance of border activity and relaying intelligence to law enforcement agencies.

These helicopter assets are under the governor’s authority as part of the Texas Military Forces, comprising the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard, all three of which report to the state’s Adjutant General.

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