Leonardo today announced the signing with Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment, distributor of Leonardo's civil helicopters in China, of new contracts for 26 helicopters, including seven AW119Kx single turbines, 15 AW109 Trekker light twin turbines and four AW139 intermediate turbines, for a total value of over 120 million euros. Deliveries of the helicopters will start this year and will run until 2019.
The orders announced today add to the series of contracts, in particular for eliambulanze, signed by Sino-US with Leonardo in recent years and include 25 AW119Kx, a mix of 30 AW139 and AW169 in the 2016 and ten AW109 Trekkers in the 2017, testifying of the growing collaboration between the two partners in China, including the territories of Hong Kong and Macao.
Leonardo has a leading position in the Chinese helicopter rescue market and a fleet of over 200 helicopters for both commercial and public service missions. With 30 units delivered in the 2017, Leonardo established a record of growth in the country last year. Thanks to the planned deliveries for the next two years, the Chinese operator Kingwing, recipient of many of the machines ordered in recent years, will become one of the world's largest civilians of helicopters Leonardo.