AgustaWestland AW149 explained

AW149
Type:Medium-lift military helicopter
National Origin:Italy
Manufacturer:AgustaWestland
Finmeccanica
Leonardo S.p.A.
First Flight:13 November 2009
Status:In service
Primary User:Egyptian Navy
More Users:Royal Thai Army
Polish Army
Produced:2009-present
Developed From:AgustaWestland AW139
Variants:AgustaWestland AW189
Developed Into:Leonardo Helicopters AW249

The AgustaWestland AW149 is a medium-lift multi-role military helicopter developed by AgustaWestland, now Leonardo, launched in 2006 and had its first flight in 2009. By 2014 it had received military flight certification, and it went on to enter production going into military service with Egypt and Thailand. It is also planned for Poland with a new PZL-Swidnik production line there that opened in 2024, and North Macedonia has a pending order. The aircraft the only contender for the British NMH procurement program in the 2020s.

Design and development

The AW149 began life as an all-new, military design. [1] It was unveiled at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show, with a larger fuselage and more powerful engines compared to the AW139, resulting in a greater cargo volume and payload carrying ability. On 13 November 2009, the first prototype conducted its first flight from AgustaWestland's Vergiate manufacturing facility in northern Italy. On 26 February 2011, the second prototype, the first with production model engines, made its first flight from Vergiate.

On 20 June 2011 AgustaWestland announced the AW189, a civilian development of the AW149, for service in 2013.

Operational history

Military certification for the AW149 was announced by Finmeccanica at the 2014 Farnborough airshow.[2] The landing gear can sustain a touchdown with a sink speed of 9.5 m/s, compared with the 2 m/s for a civilian helicopter. The AW149 is being marketed as an alternative to the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk family. Thailand has ordered 5 AW149 helicopters, and is the first export customer.[3] The Italian Air Force considered it as a search and rescue helicopter, but chose the lighter AW139M instead.

In April 2019, the Egyptian Navy ordered 24 AW149s with option for 10 more; first deliveries took place in late 2020.[4] [5] [6]

AgustaWestland submitted a version of the AW149, designated TUHP149, as a candidate for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) for the Turkish Armed Forces. The programme sought an initial batch of 109 helicopters worth $4 billion, prospective follow-on orders for subsequent batches may eventually rise to 300 rotorcraft.[7] On 21 April 2011, the Turkish defence minister announced that the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk had been selected as the winner.

Leonardo has proposed the AW149 for the UK's New Medium Helicopter programme, which aims to replace the RAF's Puma helicopters, with production to be at Leonardo's Yeovil factory if the bid is successful.[8]

In June 2022 Polish defence minister said Poland would order 32 AW149 helicopters, with production to be at Leonardo's PZL Świdnik factory.[9] [10] [11] The contract was signed on 1 July 2022, and has a value of $1.85 billion (€1.76 billion). Delivery planned in years 2023-2029.[12] [13] In 2024, the Polish AW149 production line opened.[14]

Operators

Civilian operators

Current operators

Thailand Royal Thai Police[15] (1 in service)

Military operators

Current operators

Egypt
  • Egyptian Navy[16] (24 ordered in 2019 with options for 10 more; 5 delivered in 2020, 5 delivered in 2021)
    Poland
  • Polish Army (32 ordered in 2022, delivery planned from 2023 to 2029, 3 delivered in 2023)
    Thailand
  • Royal Thai Army (5 in service)

    Future operators

    Army of North Macedonia (4 AW149 on order)[17]

    Potential operators

    Malaysia
  • Leonardo offered the AW149 to replace the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri of the Malaysian Air Force in 2024.[18] The Malaysian authorities already use the AW189, the civilian variant of this helicopter.
  • The planned purchase is to take place in two phases:[19]
    United Kingdom
  • As part of the NMH programme (New Medium Helicopter), the Royal Air Force is looking for a successor to the 23 Westland Puma HC2, the 3 Bell 412 Griffin, and the British Army is looking to replace 3 Bell 212 and 6 Airbus AS365 Dauphin.[20] [21]
  • Airbus Helicopters, Sikorsky and Leonardo initially participated the competition with the Airbus H175M, the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk and the Leonardo AW149.
  • Both Airbus and Sikorsky withdrew from the competition in August 2024, which leaves the AW149 as the sole bidder.[22] It is unclear whether the new British government will follow through with this purchase, or if the programme will be cancelled.[23]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: UK's Aging Helicopter Military Fleet Set to Be Replaced by Leonardo's Robust AW149 Medium Helicopter . Army Recognition . 23 November 2024 . 9 September 2024.
    2. http://www.leonardocompany.com/en/-/fia2014-certificazione-aw149-certification/ "Military certification for the AW149"
    3. Web site: Nondhasa . Sompong . 18 December 2016 . Thai Army puts faith in Leonardo . registration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928003725/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/thai-army-puts-faith-leonardo/ . 28 September 2023 . 23 November 2024 . Shephard Media.
    4. Web site: Cabirol . Michel . 25 April 2019 . Armement : mais qu'est-ce qui se passe entre la France et l'Egypte . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190425062903/https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/armement-mais-qu-est-ce-qui-se-passe-entre-la-france-et-l-egypte-815119.html . 25 April 2019 . 27 April 2019 . La Tribune . French.
    5. https://janescom.sitefinity.cloud/defence-news/news-detail/d5aedf0d-aa74-4763-9e77-52d09c89dd92
    6. Web site: Perry . Dominic . Egyptian AW149 fleet grows with late 2020 deliveries . 18 January 2021 . 20 January 2021 . Flight Global . 20 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120194214/https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/egyptian-aw149-fleet-grows-with-late-2020-deliveries/142001.article . live .
    7. Osbek, Tolga."Turkey to decide in June between AW149, 'T-70' Black Hawk." Flight International, 9 April 2007.
    8. Web site: Perry . Dominic . Leonardo Helicopters boosts UK content on AW149 for NMH bid . . 14 September 2021 . 19 September 2021 . limited.
    9. Web site: Sabak . Juliusz . 13 June 2022 . Polska kupuje śmigłowce AW149 w programie Perkoz . Poland buys AW149 helicopters in Perkoz programme . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220613163602/https://defence24.pl/sily-zbrojne/polska-kupuje-smiglowce-aw149-w-programie-perkoz . 13 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 . Defence24.pl . pl.
    10. Web site: Osborne . Tony . 13 June 2022 . Poland Plans To Buy AW149 Fleet, Defense Minister Says . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220613220638/https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/poland-plans-buy-aw149-fleet-defense-minister-says . 13 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 . Aviation Week.
    11. News: Zecchini . Francesco . 14 June 2022 . Leonardo set to benefit from Polish military helicopter order . 14 June 2022 . Reuters.
    12. Web site: 1 July 2022 . Umowa na dostawę 32 śmigłowców AW149 podpisana . Contract for 32 AW149 helicopters signed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701142044/http://dziennikzbrojny.pl/aktualnosci/news,1,11660,aktualnosci-z-polski,umowa-na-dostawe-32-smiglowcow-aw149-podpisana . 1 July 2022 . 6 July 2022 . DziennikZbrojny.pl . pl.
    13. Web site: Perkoz zakupiony w Świdniku. Defence24.pl. July 2022. 6 July 2022. 2 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220702234642/https://defence24.pl/przemysl/perkoz-zakupiony-w-swidniku. live.
    14. Web site: Domingo . Juster . 6 June 2024 . Leonardo Opens AW149 Helicopter Production Line in Poland . 1 October 2024 . The Defense Post .
    15. Web site: 2018 . World Air Forces 2018 . 4 August 2018 . Flightglobal Insight . 6 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180206123925/https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/21905/waf/ . live .
    16. Web site: Perry . Dominic . 25 April 2019 . AW149 helicopter nets crucial export order from Egypt . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190425104614/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aw149-helicopter-nets-crucial-export-order-from-egyp-457686/ . 25 April 2019 . 27 April 2019 . Flight Global.
    17. Web site: North Macedonia Buys Eight New Helicopters From Leonardo – The Defense Post . 11 June 2024 . 11 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240611074532/https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/04/03/north-macedonia-eight-helicopters-leonardo/ . live .
    18. Web site: 29 May 2023 . LIMA 2023: Leonardo promoting AW149 for Malaysia . 7 October 2024 . Janes.
    19. Web site: admin . 7 October 2024 . Royal Malaysian Air Force Considers Leonardo AW149 for Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King Replacement - MilitaryLeak.COM . 7 October 2024 . militaryleak.com.
    20. Web site: Jennings . Gareth . 14 September 2021 . DSEI 2021: Contenders showcase New Medium Helicopter offerings for UK . 17 September 2021 . Janes.com . 3 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240903041824/https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/air/dsei-2021-contenders-showcase-new-medium-helicopter-offerings-for-uk . live .
    21. Web site: Losey . Stephen . 27 February 2024 . UK opens bidding for new helicopter, to award contract in 2025 . 5 May 2024 . Defense News . 3 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240903041822/https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/27/uk-opens-bidding-for-new-helicopter-to-award-contract-in-2025/ . live .
    22. Web site: Felstead . Peter . 30 August 2024 . Airbus and Lockheed Martin withdraw from NMH, leaving Leonardo as the sole bidder - European Security & Defence . 1 September 2024 . euro-sd.com . 1 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240901035458/https://euro-sd.com/2024/08/major-news/40065/airbus-and-lm-pull-out-of-nmh/ . live .
    23. Web site: Felstead . Peter . 30 August 2024 . Airbus and Lockheed Martin withdraw from NMH, leaving Leonardo as the sole bidder - European Security & Defence . 1 September 2024 . euro-sd.com. 1 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240901035458/https://euro-sd.com/2024/08/major-news/40065/airbus-and-lm-pull-out-of-nmh/ . live .

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