The primary of 18 helicopters was delivered in keeping with contractual obligations. The Austrian MoD’s AW169M LUH programme begins a brand new period in nationwide defence and emergency response capabilities. Choices for a further 18 helicopters have been exercised within the framework of the Italy-Austria G2G initiative aimed toward reinforcing the bilateral collaboration between the 2 international locations and establishing a strategic partnership within the rotorcraft sector. The Austrian Ministry of Defence’s AW169M LUH helicopter programme set a significant milestone as we speak with the supply of the primary plane from an preliminary order of 18 items, primarily based on the Italy-Austria Authorities-to-Authorities (G2G) Settlement introduced by the related Authorities on the finish of 2021. The handover of the plane, constructed at Leonardo’s Vergiate facility in Italy, achieved in keeping with the contractual obligations, was carried out throughout an official ceremony held on the Tulln-Langenlebarn Brumowski Air Base, within the presence of Leonardo’s senior administration. Austria and Italy additionally introduced as we speak a G2G Settlement modification by which Austria is exercising choices for a further 18 helicopters, offering additional proof of its confidence within the chosen platform.
Alessandro Profumo, Chief Govt Officer of Leonardo, mentioned: “We’re happy to see the primary helicopter in Austria and we welcome the choice to additional develop the fleet. We sit up for offering a fair better contribution to satisfy the necessities set by the collaboration between the 2 governments. It provides us nice pleasure to see the primary AW169M LUH right here in Austria and we welcome the choice to additional develop the fleet. We sit up for offering a fair better contribution with probably the most technologically superior and cost-effective answer to satisfy the stringent necessities set by the collaboration between the 2 governments. We’re dedicated to sustaining this essential and rising programme.”
Commercial
Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, mentioned: “The event of this programme and the handover of the primary plane in keeping with the supply schedule is the results of an incredible collaboration amongst all of the concerned events. We all know the excellent expertise, efficiency, multirole capabilities and full companies of the kind will considerably enhance nationwide defence and emergency response, much more with as we speak’s choice to depend on a fair bigger fleet sooner or later.”
The Italy-Austria G2G initiative is aimed toward reinforcing the bilateral collaboration between the 2 international locations and establishing a strategic partnership within the rotorcraft sector, with Austria Italy and the AW169M LUH programme for its modernisation plan and the alternative of its ageing Alouette III plane fleet, which have been in service because the Nineteen Sixties. The primary plane’s handover marks a major leap ahead for Austria, beginning a brand new period in nationwide defence and emergency response capabilities. Moreover, it additionally represents an essential milestone for Leonardo, celebrating the primary supply to the export market of the AW169M variant, underneath a G2G programme. Austrian crews have already been leveraging preliminary coaching provided at Leonardo’s Coaching Academy in Sesto Calende (Italy) and might be supported by the Italian Military’s coaching capabilities as an AW169M LUH operator. The AW169M LUH, with its superior efficiency and unmatched newest technology capabilities, in addition to the whole help and coaching companies to carry out true multirole operations, is probably the most technologically superior and cost-effective answer to satisfy the rigorous wants of the operator.
The Leonardo AW169 is a twin-engine, 10-seat, 4.8t helicopter developed and manufactured by the helicopter division of Leonardo (previously AgustaWestland, merged into Finmeccanica since 2016). It was designed to share similarities with the bigger Leonardo AW139 and AW189. The AW169 is a medium-sized twin engine helicopter; upon launch, it held the excellence of being the primary all new plane in its weight class in over 30 years. Weighing roughly 4,500 kg and accommodating The spacious cabin with flat flooring can carry as much as 10 troops rapidly to their drop-off level or will be transformed to restoration as much as 2 stretchers in flight. The AW169 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A FADEC turboshaft engines, which drives the primary rotor at variable speeds to scale back exterior noise and improve effectivity. Newly developed dampeners have been put in between the rotor blades of the primary rotor so as to scale back vibration ranges for a easy passenger expertise. The Leonardo AW169M LUH is a designation for militarised variant UH-169 LUH for the Italian Military, with variations for troop transport, utility help, maritime patrol, armed reconnaissance and shut air help operations.
