Leonardo has announced that it has signed new contracts for five more AW139 helicopters for the National Fire Brigade, including an integrated logistics support package and training for pilots and technicians. Orders have a value of over 75 million and follow the purchase of three units, two of which have already been delivered this year. The five new helicopters will be delivered by 2020 by June.
The Fire Brigade intends to progressively replace AB412 helicopters in service for decades now, in order to further optimize the coverage of the national territory and provide a more rapid and effective response in the event of natural disasters and, in general, whenever rescue operations are required plane to the population. The introduction of the AW139 represents a substantial improvement in the capabilities of the air service of the National Fire Brigade Corps which will be able to count on the most modern helicopter in the world for search and rescue operations (SAR) at sea and mountain environment, medical transport, fire protection and civil protection. The fleet modernization program provides an option for seven additional helicopters, in addition to the eight already ordered.
More than 816.000 are the rescue and fire-fighting missions carried out every year in Europe, including Italy. The AW139 of the Fire Department are equipped with a wide range of equipment such as recovery winch, barycentric hook for the use of fire bucket, weather radar, satellite communication system, electro-optical system, high definition mission console developed by Leonardo and data transmission system on the ground. The helicopters also have an advanced anti-collision system designed by Leonardo, night vision devices, a searchlight with very high lighting, emergency floats and life rafts, loudspeakers and medical instrumentation. The cockpit is characterized by state-of-the-art avionics technology, thanks to the large displays that allow clear, immediate and easy access to all flight and mission information, with a consequent reduction in the workload of the crew, thus allowing it to focus more on the mission. The helicopter is also equipped with an advanced autopilot, developed for search and rescue operations, even at sea.
Deepening: AW139 helicopter
The AW139 is a helicopter of the class of 7 tons, equipped with a large cabin which can be accessed laterally with two large sliding doors. The power of the two turbine engines ensures top class performance and safety. Furthermore, the ability to operate with only one functioning engine, even in the most critical missions, guarantees the full safety of the crew and passengers.
In Italy, the AW139 was also adopted by the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Guardia di Finanza and the State Police as well as by numerous emergency medical transport operators. All operators who, using the same helicopter model, can benefit from effective and efficient sharing of logistics, training and support services. With these latest Fire Brigade contracts, the number of AW139 ordered by Italian government operators rises to 61, covering a wide range of tasks, such as: public order and security, patrol and aerial surveillance, special operations and anti-terrorism, research and rescue, command and control, government and VVIP transport, civil protection, forest fire prevention and training.
Italy, but not only: there are numerous police forces and government agencies that have chosen and are already using the AW139. These include those in the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, the Netherlands, Chile, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Croatia. The AW139 counts 270 customers, belonging to different countries 70. The helicopters ordered to date are more than 1.100, more than 950 of which are already in service. Numbers that make the AW139 the most sold helicopter in the world in its category.