Italian aerospace and defense company Leonardo announced that the Austrian Armed Forces have purchased additional AW169M helicopters.
According to the company, the EUR 304 million contract for the purchase of an additional 18 helicopters follows the revision of the Italian-Austrian Government-to-Government Agreement (G2G) signed in December 2022 and brings the total AW169M LUH to 36 for the Federal Ministry of Defense. Shirt.
The Italy-Austria G2G Initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries and establish a strategic partnership in the field of helicopters
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AW169M LUHs will be able to perform a variety of missions in support of the defense requirements of Austria and the national community, including troop transport, combat operations, disaster relief and emergency response, fire fighting, rescue mountain households and MEDEVAC.
Leonardo and the Directorate General of Aeronautical Armaments and Aviation Capabilities of the General Secretary of Defense of Italy / Directorate General of National Armaments signed yesterday the Acquisition Contract for the supply of an additional 18 Light Utility Helicopters AW169M (LUH) for the Austrian Ministry of Defense. The contract is worth EUR 304 million, signed following the revision of the Government-Italian-Austrian Government Agreement (G2G) signed in December 2022, through which Austria is working on options for the units. This supplement provides further evidence of the country’s trust in the chosen platform.
This latest contract will bring a total of 36 AW169M LUHs to the Austrian Ministry of Defense. The first aircraft was delivered in December 2022 in a formal ceremony and in accordance with its contractual obligations, inaugurating a new era of national defense and emergency response capabilities. Furthermore, it also represents an important milestone for Leonardo, celebrating the first delivery to the export market of the AW169M variant under the G2G scheme. The Austrian crews took advantage of the initial training offered at Leonardo’s Training Academy in Sesto Calende (Italy) and will be supported by the Italian Army’s training capabilities as dispatchers. operating AW169M LUH. Deliveries of all aircraft are expected to be completed by 2028.
The Italy-Austria G2G Initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries and establish a strategic partnership in the field of helicopters, in which Austria is considering Italy and the AW169M LUH program for its plan. modernize and replace the country’s aging Alouette III aircraft fleet, which has been in service since the 1960s.
The AW169M LUH, with its outstanding performance and unmatched latest generation capabilities, as well as complete training and support services to perform true multi-role operations, is a technologically advanced solution. and most cost-effective to meet the demanding demands of the operator. AW169M LUHs will be able to perform a wide range of missions in support of the defense requirements of Austria and the national community, such as troop transport, combat operations, disaster relief and emergency response, fire fighting, mountain rescue and MEDEVAC.
