The 304 million EUR Contract for added 18 helicopters follows the Italy-Austria Authorities-to-Authorities (G2G) Settlement modification signed in December 2022 and brings to 36 the full variety of AW169M LUH for the Austrian Ministry of Defence. The AW169M LUHs will be capable of perform a variety of missions supporting Austrian defence necessities and the nationwide group, together with troop transport, fight operations, catastrophe reduction and emergency response, fire-fighting, mountain rescue and MEDEVAC. The Italy-Austria G2G initiative is geared toward reinforcing the bilateral collaboration between the 2 nations and establishing a strategic partnership within the rotorcraft sector
Leonardo and the Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness of the Italian Secretariat Common of Defence/Nationwide Armaments Directorate signed yesterday the Acquisition Contract for the provision of an extra 18 AW169M Gentle Utility Helicopters (LUH) to the Austrian Ministry of Defence. The contract, valued at 304 million EUR, was signed following the Italy-Austria Authorities-to-Authorities (G2G) Settlement modification signed in December 2022, via which Austria is exercising choices for these extra models, offering additional proof of its confidence within the chosen platform. The Italy-Austria G2G initiative is geared toward reinforcing the bilateral collaboration between the 2 nations and establishing a strategic partnership within the rotorcraft sector, with Austria taking a look at 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.
Commercial
This newest contract will deliver to 36 the full variety of AW169M LUHs for the Austrian Ministry of Defence. The primary plane was delivered in December 2022 throughout an official ceremony and according to the contractual obligations, 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 beneath a G2G programme. Austrian crews have already been leveraging preliminary coaching provided at Leonardo’s Coaching Academy in Sesto Calende (Italy) and will probably be supported by the Italian Military’s coaching capabilities as an AW169M LUH operator. Deliveries of all plane are anticipated to be accomplished by 2028.
The AW169M LUH is the army model of the AW169 – is the brand new mild intermediate twin-engine helicopter with the class-leading efficiency and multi-role functionality to function each day and evening in austere, city and difficult ‘scorching and excessive’ situations. The AW169M LUH, with its superior efficiency and unmatched newest technology capabilities, in addition to the entire help and coaching providers to carry out true multirole operations, is essentially the most technologically superior and cost-effective answer to fulfill the rigorous wants of the operator. The AW169M LUHs will be capable of perform a variety of missions supporting Austrian defence necessities and the nationwide group, corresponding to troop transport, fight operations, catastrophe reduction and emergency response, fire-fighting, mountain rescue and MEDEVAC.
