Leonardo

Leonardo has delivered the first of 18 skidded-landing variant AW169M intermediate-light twin-engine helicopters to the Guardia di Finanza.

The 550th Helicopter Squadron will be activated in February at Malmstrom AFB, with a five-year mission to support MH-139 training and testing.

Industrial and governmental joint ventures would allow more national partners to join the program and benefit from volume.

The system was developed from Leonardo's successful Falco family of tactical UAS.

The cooperation agreement signed in Rome on Dec. 2 covers the supply of 18 Leonardo AW169M helicopters.

Three governments have already approved funding the multibillion-euro development.

The UK Ministry of Defense has confirmed it is looking to procure as many as 44 rotorcraft for its New Medium Helicopter requirement.

Titanium parts made for Boeing 787s by a sub-tier vendor and supplied via Leonardo do not conform to Boeing’s design specifications and must be re-worked.

The two companies hinted that new rotary-wing designs could emerge from the partnership.

A Boeing 757-derived flying testbed being developed to support Tempest FCAS, will also be made available for other flight-tests.

Italy has joined with the UK to develop the Radar 2 version of the Eurofighter’s AESA radar.

Leonardo is taking a 25% stake in German defense electronics company Hensoldt in a €600 million ($650 million) transaction.

The Italian Army has selected the General Electric (GE) CT7 engine for its new Leonardo AW249/AH-249 attack helicopter.

Leonardo’s Seaspray search radar is to be integrated onto the MQ-9B SkyGuardian as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) pushes the unmanned air system for the maritime surveillance mission.

The CEO of Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo has been sentenced to six years in prison for crimes committed in a previous role.

Austria has selected the military version of Leonardo’s AW169 twin-engine intermediate light helicopter to replace its fleet of 1960s-era Aerospatiale Alouette III.

Leonardo says it has completed flight testing for the latest phase enhancement upgrade for the Eurofighter Typhoon, paving the way for the delivery of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar-equipped aircraft to Kuwait.

Leonardo says its takeover of Swiss helicopter manufacturer Kopter will help it accelerate the “development of capabilities” for light, single-engine helicopters.

Italian aerospace and defense company Leonardo says operations are continuing normally despite the national lockdown.

The flight trial will see the helicopter’s mission commander take control of an unmanned aircraft system and prove the ability of the crew to control and monitor it and its payload.

Boeing plans to deliver 84 copies of the Leonardo AW139 derivative under a $2.38 billion contract awarded in September 2018.

The Italian company, through its subsidiary, Leonardo International, will take a 51% majority stake in the new joint venture, called Leonardo & Codemar S.A.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office should rule on the protest by mid-May.

A new European helicopter show is being established through a partnership of the European Helicopter Association and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

During the next 10 years, manufacturers are expected to deliver nearly 7,500 new production helicopters worth $36.9 billion at retail prices, according to the 2020 Helicopter Fleet & MRO Forecast by the Aviation Week Network.