First Two AW149 Helicopters Officially Handed Over to Poland

Poland has taken delivery of the first two Leonardo AW149 helicopters, marking a significant step in modernizing its military aviation capabilities. The AW149, a versatile multirole helicopter, will play a vital role in enhancing Poland's military operations.

These helicopters are part of a larger order placed by the Polish Ministry of Defense in the summer of 2022, where a contract was signed with PZL Świdnik for 32 AW149 helicopters. These helicopters are expected to be delivered between 2023 and 2029.

In addition to the AW149 helicopters, the US State Department approved Poland's request for 800 AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles for the Polish Army. These Hellfire missiles, with an estimated contract value of $150 million, will be integrated into the AW149 helicopters, further bolstering Poland's military capabilities. The contract also includes four M36 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles and technical support.

Poland's investment in modernizing its military assets underscores its commitment to national defense and its readiness to meet evolving security challenges. The AW149 helicopters, equipped with Hellfire missiles, will provide the Polish military with advanced and versatile tools to strengthen its operational capabilities.

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Egypt reportedly orders AW149 helicopters instead of NH90

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Egypt reportedly orders AW149 helicopters instead of NH90

Egypt is believed to have ordered AW149 helicopters to use aboard its naval vessels, choosing the Leonardo Helicopters product over the competing NH90.
According to France’s La Tribune, Egypt informed France last week that it had chosen the AW149, with the order believed to cover around 20 helicopters. Leonardo has neither confirmed nor denied the contract.
France was hoping to sell the NH90 to Egypt after a string of sales that has included 24 Rafale fighter jets, two Mistral class landing helicopter docks (LHDs) and four Gowind class corvettes since 2014.
Egypt was looking at acquiring 20-30 NH90 for use aboard its naval vessels but it will also fly the AW149 on land-based troop transport and search and rescue missions.
defenceweb

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Poland’s has announced plans to decrease the amount of the Caracal EC725 helicopters the country is to acquire from Airbus Helicopters. This would allow the ministry to also purchase Black Hawk and AW149 helos from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
The decision comes following the forming of Poland’s new government in November by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Last April, the previous Cabinet decided to order 60 multi-role helos from Airbus Helicopters to replace the Polish military’s Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 copters.
Sikorsky’s local subsidiary PZL Mielec makes the Black Hawk, while AgustaWestland’s PZL Swidnik offshoot produces the AW149.
defensenews

Italian Amry to upgrade Mangusta helicopter

The Italian army is seeking an enhancement package for its AgustaWestland AH-129D Mangusta attack helicopter, which it hopes will be upgraded within five to six years.
Two options have been considered: to "exploit the current Mangusta" or acquire a new attack helicopter derived from the AW149.
The army is looking for enhancements in speed, endurance, altitude, situational awareness, human-machine interface and information exchange/command and control. It is also looking to decrease the handling and workload burdens.
The upgrade timeframe “depends on money”, but it is hoped it will be in service by around 2020.
The Italian army expects a new tactical UAV capability to be delivered by June 2015 when the Textron Systems Shadow 200 joins its inventory to complement the Mangusta helicopter.
flightglobal

Italy Gives AW149 Military Certification

AgustaWestland’s AW149 helicopter, which the firm is pitching to Poland, received Italian military certification Tuesday.
The helicopter, which has been undergoing trials, is being pitched by the Finmeccanica unit for Poland’s requirement for a multirole helicopter, and would be partially assembled in Poland by PZL-Swidnik, the local firm owned by Finmeccanica.
defensenews

Turkey gears up efforts for indigenous helicopter production

Another sign has emerged that Turkey’s defense industry planners are serious about their ambition to manufacture an indigenous helicopter locally.
A Rotor Technology Center has been launched. The move comes as part of a June 2013 contract signed with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
The center would aim to build rotor technologies through research and development activity and to train the scientifically competent personnel Turkey’s defense industry would need in the future, in view of a program to design, develop and manufacture the country’s first indigenous helicopter.
The center is planning to organize a workshop on March 14.
Last summer, Turkish procurement authorities formalized their plans to build a Turkish helicopter when they tasked TAI with the job.
The program was launched in June 2010, and TAI submitted its bid to be the local prime contractor in October 2012. TAI’s five-ton, twin-engine “light” helicopter will meet the Turkish military requirements in the medium- and long-run, but will also have a civilian model for the commercial market.
The Turkish helicopter aims to replace Turkey’s aging UH-1s, but it could also be used to meet Army helicopter training needs.
Turkey in 2011 selected Sikorsky as its partner company to lead production of the country’s next-generation utility helicopters. Sikorsky’s T-70, the Turkish version of the company’s S-70 Black Hawk International, defeated Italian-British AgustaWestland for the contract. The S-70 Black Hawk International is used by the militaries of dozens of countries, including Turkey. AgustaWestland was competing with its TUHP 149, the Turkish version of its newly developed AW149.
The first batch will be for 109 utility helicopters, but with follow-on orders, more than 600 machines could be built.
hurriyetdailynews

AgustaWestland nears certification for military AW149

AgustaWestland hopes it will clinch military certification of its in-development AW149 helicopter in a baseline configuration by year-end.
The new 8t-class medium-twin is being developed as a variant of the civil AW189, which is due to achieve EASA approval in the coming weeks.
However, the AW149 is yet to find a customer. Italy's air force was initially considered to be a likely buyer to fulfil a search and rescue requirement, but it instead acquired the lighter AW139M.
Nonetheless, AgustaWestland believes the AW149 will prove popular with armed forces looking for an alternative to Sikorsky's ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk.
The earliest test of its competitiveness against the Sikorsky aircraft, and Eurocopter's EC725, will come in Poland, which has a tri-service requirement for 70 helicopters. Warsaw is yet to issue a request for proposals for the contest.
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