lunes, 12 de noviembre de 2018

Leonardo awarded contract for 22 of the new AW169M helicopter variant by Italy's Guardia di Finanza

Contract  for 22 AW169Ms  in dedicated configuration  with support and training package  valued at 280 million euro with deliveries  between summer 2019 and 2024.


Complements  a fleet of 14  AW139s to perform  patrol and reconnaissance, law enforcement, rescue and homeland security  missions


The Guardia di  Finanza contract  for AW169Ms follows the  success of the AW169 and strengthens  its position in Italy as the most innovative rescue helicopter    


Rome,  12 November  2018 –  Leonardo announced today  the signing of a contract with Italy’s Guardia  di Finanza for 22 new generation  AW169M twin engine helicopters. The  contract, valued at 280 million euro,  includes a comprehensive support and training package which could be further extended with optional  services valued at an additional 100 million euro. Deliveries are  expected to start in summer 2019 and to be completed by 2024.


The  aircraft  will be used  to perform a range  of roles including patrol  and reconnaissance, law enforcement, rescue and homeland security, complementing a fleet of 14 AW139 intermediate twins, six  of which are already in service and the following  eight due to be delivered in 2019.


“This  contract  will allow  us to deliver the Guardia di Finanza  a new generation helicopter    with the best technologies available,  to perform missions which are getting  more and more complex and challenging. Our ability to provide state-of-the-art products  to meet the requirements of Italian government agencies  and armed forces, for the security of our nation, is the  result of Leonardo’s leading edge technology and innovation”, said Alessandro  Profumo, Leonardo CEO.


The  AW169Ms  of Guardia  di Finanza will  receive a military  qualification by the  Italian Directorate of Air  Armaments (ARMAEREO) and will  feature a dedicated configuration  including rescue hoist, emergency floatation  system and life rafts, wire cutters, TCAS II  (Traffic Collision Avoidance System), NVG (Night Vision  Goggle) compatible cockpit, HTAWS (Helicopter Terrain Awareness  Warning System), advanced communication system, OPLS (Obstacle Proximity Lidar  System), advanced HUMS (Health Usage Monitoring System), AFCS (Automatic Flight Control  System) with SAR modes, searchlight, ice detector, fast roping and satcom. The aircraft will  be also fitted with a range of Leonardo systems such as RW ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation  and Surveillance) system with advanced operator console, Gabbiano radar, LEOSS (Long Range Electro-Optical  Surveillance System), M428 IFF transponder, V/UHF radio systems cockpit panels and lighting and provisions for  SPHYDER (Smart Processing Hyperspectral Detection and Reconnaissance System).


The  contract  for the AW169M  by Guardia di Finanza  follows the success of the  AW169 type in Italy for emergency  medical services with various operators  across the nation. It also follows the success  of the AW169 for law enforcement in Europe and the Americas.