Enstrom Helicopter has been chosen by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force to supply the next generation of training helicopters for the JGSDF Pilot Training Program. The program calls for the first evaluation helicopter to be delivered in 2010, with a total of 30 aircraft to be delivered by 2014. This marks the second major training program Enstrom has been awarded in the last year. In combination with the 16 helicopters slated for the Royal Thai Army, Enstrom's 480B trainer backlog now stands at 46 aircraft. Enstrom's first turbine helicopter, the TH-28, was originally developed as a training aircraft for the US Army. Later it was developed into the commercial variant 480, and subsequently the 480B. " The deal represents a huge step forward for Enstrom. Combined with the Royal Thai Army program, the U.S. chopper maker now have a steady baseline of production for the next several years.