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The new AMS helicopters are currently being manufactured at the Leonardo Helicopter assembly plant in Philadelphia. Tilden, who has spearheaded the aircraft recapitalization program, recently toured the facility to observe the manufacturing process as the two helicopters move through the final stages of assembly. Accompanied by other senior NEST leaders, Tilden thanked the Leonardo workforce for their contribution to a critical nuclear security mission.
“NEST has a proud heritage of preventing fearful events and providing decisionmakers with dispassionate scientific advice during fearful events, and these aircraft are a critical element of that mission,” Tilden said. “AMS scientists, technical personnel, and pilots are on-call 24 hours per day / 365 days per year to respond to nuclear incidents and accidents. It’s vital that these aircraft be as reliable and versatile as the men and women who operate them for the American people.”