Protecting the horizon
Make it an unfair fight, with the EA-37B. Deny, degrade, and disrupt the enemy.
First AW169 helicopter arrives in Austria
Leonardo has been providing training for Austrian crew for the AW169M in its Training Academy in Sesto Calende, Italy. (Photo: Leonardo)
The AW169M LUH helicopters will replace Austria's ageing fleet of Alouette III aircraft.
The Austrian MoD has received the first of an initial 18 AW169M light utility helicopters (LUHs), Leonardo announced on 21 December.
The aircraft is part of the Italy-Austria government-to-government (G2G) initiative signed in 2021. It aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries and establish a strategic partnership in the rotorcraft sector.
Options for an additional 18 aircraft were also exercised in the framework of the G2G initiative, as Shephard reported in November. However, the delivery timeframe for the remaining aircraft was not disclosed.
Austria chose the AW169M to fulfil some of its modernisation objectives and to replace ageing Alouette III aircraft, which have been in service since the 1960s.
Austria operates 28 Alouettes with a planned out-of-service date of 2026.
Leonardo said the aircraft handover to Austria was an important milestone for the company as it marks the first delivery of the AW169M variant for export.
Leonardo has been providing training for Austrian crews in its academy at Sesto Calende, Italy. Austria will also benefit from the Italian Army’s training capabilities as an operator of the AW169M LUH.
Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo, said: ‘It gives us great pleasure to see the first AW169M LUH here in Austria, and we welcome the decision to further expand the fleet.
‘We look forward to providing an even greater contribution with the most technologically advanced and cost-effective solution to meet the stringent requirements set by the collaboration between the two governments. We’re committed to sustaining this important and growing programme.’
The AW169M is the military version of the multirole AW169.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Protecting the horizon]()
-
![Singapore P-8A buy integral to future maritime domain awareness network]()
Singapore P-8A buy integral to future maritime domain awareness network
Singapore’s acquisition of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon will be part of a maritime domain awareness network that could include unmanned aerial systems.
-
![Peru cleared for possible $3.42 billion F-16 Block 70 buy]()
Peru cleared for possible $3.42 billion F-16 Block 70 buy
The potential foreign military sale covers 12 F-16 aircraft as well as related training and equipment support, the DSCA notice said.
-
![DSEI 2025: UK’s new Air Chief Marshal outlines nuclear, space and IAMD as three key priorities for RAF]()
DSEI 2025: UK’s new Air Chief Marshal outlines nuclear, space and IAMD as three key priorities for RAF
Aiming to field a more integrated, agile force, the military leader said in a keynote speech that focus on these core areas would be increased to help the RAF deter and meet challenges in the new threat landscape.
-
![DSEI 2025: The fighter market shift to Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)]()
DSEI 2025: The fighter market shift to Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)
Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities is set to become a market differentiator for fighter aircraft, allowing 4.5-5th generation platforms to remain relevant to the battlefield.
-
![Project Kuiper’s LEO network pioneers Space-as-a-Service]()
Project Kuiper’s LEO network pioneers Space-as-a-Service
The Kuiper Network enables organizations to buy, rather than build, applications that serve mission needs at mission speed.
