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 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
More from Air Warfare
-
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.
-
National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme
The report discloses that while the capability provided by the F-35 is superior to previous UK aircraft, delays from the UK Ministry of Defence on the programme have significantly impacted the country’s warfighting capabilities.
-
France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production
The new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will work on a range of other projects to boost the UK economy and defence industry, including joint development on new high-tech frequency weapons and extended range air-to-air missiles.
-
Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
-
France pushes for 80% workshare as FCAS programme nears critical development stage
Tensions on the programme have long simmered, with Airbus and Dassault recently clashing over workshare in June ahead of the Paris Air Show. The sixth-generation fighter programme is due to replace Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon jets beginning in 2040.
-
US Air Force conducts climate testing with the T-7A Red Hawk
The trainer aircraft recently completed the second round of extreme weather trials after enduring icy, windy and sunny conditions.