Leonardo: Wiking signs 30 million euro contract for two AW139 helicopters to enhance offshore transport capabilities in Northern Europe

- Latest  order  adds  to  a  four  unit  AW139  fleet;  deliveries  expected  between  2019  and 2020   

- The  AW139  is  the  aircraft  of  choice  for  demanding  overseas  operations  in  Northern Europe and  worldwide     

- Over  1100  AW139s  have  been  ordered  by  more  than  270  customers  in  over  70 nations  to  date

Paris,  19  June  2019  –  Leonardo  announced  today  the  signing  of  a  contract  valued  at  30 million  euro  for  two  AW139  intermediate  twin  engine  helicopters  with  Wiking  Helikopter Service  GmbH  of  Germany.  The  aircraft,  which  are  expected  to  be  delivered  in  2019  and 2020,  will  be  used  to  perform  offshore  transport  operations  in  Northern  Europe,  further expanding  the  AW139  fleet  of  Wiking which already  operates  four  helicopters  in  the  region.   

Wiking  has  been  an  offshore  transport  specialist  in  the  North  and  Baltic  Sea  areas  for  over  43 years.  The  Company  also  performs  sea  pilots  transfer,  windmill  engineer  hoisting  service  and emergency  medical  service  operations.  This  latest  AW139  contract  provides  more  evidence  of the  unrivalled  mission  capabilities,  operational  efficiency  and  reliability  of  the  world’s  most successful  type  in  its  category  to  carry  out  demanding  missions  overseas.  The  AW139  fleet augmentation  programme will  allow  Wiking  to  meet  the  evolving  requirements  of  its  clients.   

The  AW139  has  proven  extremely  popular  in  the  region  for  offshore,  search  and  rescue, passenger  transport  and  law  enforcement  duties.  The  type  set  new  standards  in  terms  of flight  and  mission  technology,  cabin  space  and  comfort,  performance,  safety  and  reliability  as well  as  introducing  advanced  support,  maintenance  and  training  services.  The  AW139  is  even exceeding  the  evolving  Oil&Gas  market’s  stringent  requirements  with  unique  features  including a  60+  minutes  run  dry  capable  main  gear  box  and  full  or  limited  ice  protection  system  as  an option  to  fly  in  known  icing  conditions  for  true  all  weather  operations.  Over  1100  AW139s  have been  ordered by  more  than 270 customers  in  more  than 70  nations to date  for  any  kind of mission.  The  global  fleet  has  amassed  over  2.3  million  flight  hours  and  the  1000th  aircraft will  be  delivered  this  year.   

Leonardo: Italian National Fire Corps expands AW139 helicopter fleet with €75 million order

- Contracts  for  five  more  AW139s  add  to  the  initial  three-unit  order,  with  two  already delivered  this  year   

- Italy  aims  to  progressively  replace  their  decades-old  AB412  helicopters  with  modern AW139s  for  disaster  relief,  firefighting  and  airborne  rescues 
  
- 61  AW139s  ordered  by  the  Italian  Government  for  public  services  to  date;  over  270 customers  from  around 70  nations  have already  ordered over  1100  AW139s 

Paris 18  June  2019  –  Leonardo  announced  new  signed  contracts  for  five  additional AW139s  to  the  Italian  National  Fire  Corps  (Vigili  del  Fuoco,  part  of  Ministry  of  the  Interior), including  integrated  logistic  support  and  training  for  crews  and  technicians.  The  orders,  valued at  over  €75  million,  add  to  the  previously  purchased  three  units,  with  two  already  delivered  this year.  The  five new  helicopters  are  expected  to be  delivered  in  June 2020.  

The  Italian  National  Fire  Corps  intends  to  progressively  replace  the  decades-old  AB412s helicopters  and  to  guarantee  optimal  coverage  and  increased  responsiveness  across  the country.  Indeed,  the  introduction  of  the  AW139  marks  a  major  enhancement  of  airborne multirole  capabilities  with  the  world’s  most  modern  helicopter  for  maritime  and  mountain  Search and  Rescue  (SAR),  medical  rescue,  firefighting  and  disaster  relief  duties.  The  fleet modernization  programme  includes  an  option  for  seven  additional  helicopters  which could  be  added  to  the  eight  already  ordered. 

Over  816,000  rescues  and  sorties  are  performed  every  year  countering  fires  across Europe,  including  many  in  Italy.  The  Italian  National  Fire  Corps  AW139  helicopters  feature  a wide  range  of  mission  equipment,  including  an  external  rescue  hoist,  cargo  hook  with  bambi bucket  provision,  weather  radar,  multi-band  and satellite communication  systems,  high definition Forward  Looking  Infra-Red  /  Low  Light  TV  (FLIR/LLTV)  system,  Leonardo’s  high  definition mission  console  with  digital  recorder,  high  definition  down  link,  Leonardo’s  Optical  Proximity LiDAR  System  (OPLS),  Night  Vision  Goggle  (NGV)  capability,  new  generation  Trakka searchlight,  emergency  floatation  system  and  external  life  rafts,  external  loudspeaker,  medical rack  and  bubble  windows.  The  aircraft  also feature  an  advanced  4-axis  autopilot  perfectly  suited for  SAR  operations,  including  over  the  sea.   

U.S. Air Force selects the MH-139 based on the world-class Leonardo AW139 helicopter for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile protection and government and security forces transport missions

The MH-139 programme, offered by Boeing as prime contractor, is valued at $2.4 billion for up to 84 helicopters training devices and associated support equipment with initial readiness by 2021   

Profumo: “This result is testament to Leonardo’s ability to meet the most stringent requirements of major customers, and a recognition of the Company as a strong, reliable partner and long established contributor to the US industry”   

Philadelphia-built aircraft will be  operated by the U.S. Air Force to replace their UH-1N Huey fleet leveraging modern technology, high performance and with a savings of $1 billion in acquisition and lifecycle costs over the life of the fleet   

Over 900 AW139s are already in service among 270 governments, militaries and companies across the world, with 260 assembled and delivered from Philadelphia     

Rome, 25 September 2018– The United States Air Force (USAF) selected the MH-139, based on the Leonardo AW139 and offered by Boeing as prime contractor, to replace its fleet of UH-1N “Huey” helicopters. The programme awarded today is valued at $2.4 billion for up to 84 helicopters, training  devices and associated support equipment. With initial operational capability expected by 2021, the aircraft will take over the role of protecting the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) bases and the transportation of U.S. government and security forces.

Alessandro Profumo, Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo said “We are extremely proud of this outstanding result. Major customers continue to rely on Leonardo to meet the most stringent requirements like the critical mission of protecting missile bases and transporting government personnel and special forces. This selection is also testament to Leonardo as a strong, reliable partner and long established contributor to the US industry.”    

The MH-139 leverages the market-leading Leonardo AW139 baseline, a modern, nondevelopmental, multi-mission helicopter that is in service worldwide and has already demonstrated its capabilities in protecting critical infrastructures and  transporting military and government representatives in various nations.

Gian Piero Cutillo, MD Leonardo  Helicopters, said “Today’s announcement is a strong recognition of the world-class quality and competitiveness of our product to meet the most demanding needs of leading  customers.”

The MH-139 is the right-sized aircraft for the mission, exceeds the Air Force’s  speed, payload, range, armament and survivability requirements for protecting ICBM bases, and is perfect for VIP transport. The type features modern design and the best level of affordability with a savings of $1 billion in acquisition and lifecycle costs over the life of the fleet. The AW139 is assembled at the Leonardo northeast  Philadelphia plant, with additional components to be integrated into the military MH-139 at the Boeing Philadelphia facility in Ridley Township, Pa.

William Hunt, CEO, AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation, said “We are happy that the U.S. Air Force has selected our team to deliver a new fleet of Philadelphia-built MH-139s. Our Air Force deserves the best tools; this is  the right helicopter for their mission. The more than $125M investment made by Leonardo in the Philadelphia facility demonstrates that we are fully prepared to execute in support of this contract. We look forward to working with Boeing on this programme and we’re committed to deliver according to expectations of the prime contractor,  the US Government and taxpayers.”

The AW139 helicopter   

The most successful helicopter programme in the last 15 years, the AW139 has set new standards through advanced technology and high performance, reliability, safety, flexibility and cabin space. The AW139 is the ideal solution to operate in harsh  environments and weather conditions. Its modern avionics reduces crews’ workload allowing the pilot to focus on the mission. Over 270 governments, militaries and companies across the world have ordered nearly 1100 AW139s, confirming itself as the bestselling aircraft in its category and with more than 900 already in service exceeding 2 million flight hours. More than 260 of the helicopters have been  assembled and delivered from Philadelphia. The AW139 is able to perform a wide range of roles including government, EMS, SAR, patrol, homeland security and transport duties. Many of the AW139s today in service in the U.S. perform law enforcement and public service missions in Maryland, New Jersey and California.