ROME, Italy (BulgarianMilitary.com) – Leonardo announced today, 12th November 2018, that the company has concluded a contract with Italy’s Guardia di Finanza for twenty-two of the new AW169M helicopter version, including a comprehensive support and training package, at the amount of €280 million, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

Read more: Leonardo Offers and an Option for Newly Built Eurofighter to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence

The deliveries are scheduled for the period between summer 2019 and 2024.

The contract for the new generation AW169M twin engine helicopters could be further extended with optional services valued at an additional €100 million.

Read more: Cyber and Electronic Warriors of the Future Will Be Trained at New Leonardo Facility

The intention is the helicopters to be used for various purposes including patrol and reconnaissance, law enforcement, rescue and homeland security as an addition to a fleet of 14 AW139 intermediate twins, six of which are already in service. The rest eight ones are to be delivered in 2019.

Read more: Leonardo Unveiled Its BriteCloud 55-T for Military Transport Aircraft Protection

The Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo commented, “This contract will allow us to deliver the Guardia di Finanza a new generation helicopter with the best technologies available, to perform missions which are getting more and more complex and challenging. Our ability to provide state-of-the-art products to meet the requirements of Italian government agencies and armed forces, for the security of our nation, is the result of Leonardo’s leading edge technology and innovation.”

The AW169M helicopters of Guardia di Finanza will receive a military qualification by the Italian Directorate of Air Armaments (ARMAEREO) and will have a dedicated configuration including rescue hoist, emergency floatation system and life rafts, wire cutters, TCAS II (Traffic Collision Avoidance System), NVG (Night Vision Goggle) compatible cockpit, HTAWS (Helicopter Terrain Awareness Warning System), advanced communication system, OPLS (Obstacle Proximity Lidar System), advanced HUMS (Health Usage Monitoring System), AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) with SAR modes, searchlight, ice detector, fast roping and satcom. The aircraft will be also equipped with various Leonardo systems such as RW ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) system with advanced operator console, Gabbiano radar, LEOSS (Long Range Electro-Optical Surveillance System), M428 IFF transponder, V/UHF radio systems cockpit panels and lighting and provisions for SPHYDER (Smart Processing Hyperspectral Detection and Reconnaissance System).

Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news from us, follow our Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ pages. Do not miss the chance to subscribe to our newsletter.

BulgarianMilitary.com

Source: Leonardo