AgustaWestland AW149

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox aircraft

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.

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.[2] On 13 November 2009, the first prototype conducted its first flight from AgustaWestland's Vergiate manufacturing facility in northern Italy.[3] On 26 February 2011, the second prototype, the first with production model engines, made its first flight from Vergiate.[4]

On 20 June 2011, AgustaWestland announced the AW189, a civilian development of the AW149, for service in 2013.[5]

Operational history

File:AW149 - Swidnik 37.JPG
AW149 on presentation flight in 2012

Military certification for the AW149 was announced by Finmeccanica at the 2014 Farnborough airshow.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9][10][11]

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.[12][13] On 21 April 2011, the Turkish defence minister announced that the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk had been selected as the winner.[14]

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.[15] Following the withdrawal of Airbus and Sikorsky Aircraft from the bidding process, the AW149 is the only official bid.[16]

In June 2022 Polish defence minister said Poland would order 32 AW149 helicopters, with production to be at Leonardo's PZL Świdnik factory.[17][18][19] 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.[20][21] In 2024, the Polish AW149 production line opened.[22] First locally produced AW149 left the assembly line in Świdnik in February 2025.[23]

Operators

File:Salon du Bourget 20090619 224.jpg
Armed version at the 2009Paris Air Show, 2 different types of rocket pods are visile
File:Agusta-Westland AW149 I-RAII (11820382365).jpg
AW149 on display at Radom Airbase Air Show in 2013
File:AW149 I-RAIC MSPO2012.jpg
On display at MSPO 2012
File:AW149 - RIAT 2015 (21519991710).jpg
AW149 at RIAT 2015
File:MIAS 260915 AW149 03.jpg
AW149 at the 2015 Malta International Airshow

Civilian operators

Current operators

Template:Country data Thailand
Royal Thai Police[24] (1 in service)

Military operators

Current operators

Template:Country data Egypt
Egyptian Navy[9][25][10][11] (24 ordered in 2019 with options for 10 more; 5 delivered in 2020, 5 delivered in 2021)
Template:Country data Poland
Polish Army[17] (32 ordered in 2022, delivery planned from 2023 to 2029, 3 delivered in 2023, 5 delivered in 2024)
Template:Country data Thailand
Royal Thai Army[24] (5 in service)

Future operators

Template:Country data North Macedonia
Army of North Macedonia (4 AW149 on order)[26]

Potential operators

Template:Country data Malaysia
Leonardo offered the AW149 to replace the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri of the Malaysian Air Force in 2024.[27] The Malaysian authorities already use the AW189, the civilian variant of this helicopter.
The planned purchase is to take place in two phases:[28]
  • Phase 1 - 12 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)-capable utility helicopters
  • Phase 2 - 12 utility helicopters
Template:Country data 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.[29][30]
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.[31] It is unclear whether the new British government will follow through with this purchase, or if the programme will be cancelled.[32]

Specifications (AW149)

Template:Aircraft specs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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External links

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Template:AgustaWestland aircraft Template:Portal bar

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  6. ↑ "Military certification for the AW149" Template:Webarchive Leonardo, July 2014.
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  13. ↑ Osbek, Tolga."Turkey to decide in June between AW149, 'T-70' Black Hawk." Template:Webarchive Flight International, 9 April 2007.
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AW149_FGtuhp
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