Ready for any mission
Military Helicopters
AW149: Versatility for the most demanding missions
AW149: Versatility for the most demanding missions
Military helicopters must be equipped to perform the most demanding missions in the harshest operating environments. The AW149 is the latest generation medium multi-role battlefield platform that delivers the highly effective and survivable capability required by today’s armed forces, combining advanced technologies, equipment and weapons with unparalleled safety and performance characteristics.
AW159 Multi-Role Land and Naval Helicopter
The AW159 twin-engine multi-mission military helicopter is capable of autonomous detection, identification and attack of Land and Naval targets, featuring state-of-the-art avionics and mission systems for excellent crew situational awareness, along with complete suite of self-protection measures facilitating rapid tactical assessment in any theatre of operations.
AW159 Multi-Role Land and Naval Helicopter
AW101: The Superior Solution
AW101: The Superior Solution
The AW101 is the most advanced, versatile and capable multi-role helicopter available today, featuring sophisticated avionics and mission systems, coupled with long range and endurance. It provides operational persistence for all missions.
Integrated Operational Support
Leonardo provides Integrated Operational Support for the Wildcat and Merlin military helicopter fleets of the UK Armed Forces, as well as the AW101 SAR helicopters for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Our comprehensive support and maintenance services improve the levels of operational output while delivering continuous improvement to reduce through life costs.
Integrated Operational Support
Wildcat Training Centre: a decade of training AW159 personnel for the frontline
Wildcat Training Centre: a decade of training AW159 personnel for the frontline
For over a decade, Leonardo has successfully delivered training for the British military’s AW159 ‘Wildcat’ pilots, aircrew and ground personnel. The Wildcat Training Centre (WTC), based at RNAS Yeovilton, is a world-leading training establishment that leverages a multitude of advanced synthetic training solutions for optimum training outcomes.
Future Aviation and Uncrewed Systems
Leonardo is leading research, development, experimentation and demonstration of emerging technologies applicable to future Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Systems in order to inspire, catalyse and accelerate innovation.
Future Aviation and Uncrewed Systems
Insights
In a Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, time is of the essence – whether that’s a rapid reaction to rescue people, gaining situational awareness through reconnaissance/establishing communications or through the delivery of vital first supplies, like water.
In the first of a two-part series, we look at how the Leonardo AW149 multi-role helicopter was designed with battlefield survivability in mind, with a focus on the airframe’s crashworthiness and minimised susceptibility to enemy fire, in addition to its unparalleled gearbox run dry capability.
In part 2, we explain how a reduced exhaust Infrared signature, next generation Defensive Aids System and external weapons options will protect the aircrew and aircraft by avoiding detection and engagement in the most severe operational environments.
Leonardo supported the UK Carrier Strike Group, featuring our AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin helicopters. Connor Flavell explains how he supported the AW101 on-board the CSG’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier.
The mighty Merlin started 2022 in a strong position as Leonardo celebrated several key milestones across customer programmes at the end 2021, including the AW101 global fleet reaching the 500,000 flight hours milestone.
Leonardo’s Full Ice Protection System (FIPS) has proved itself an outstanding enabler of all-weather helicopter flying, having undertaken more than 20,000 flight hours during the past five years.
With the AW101 SAR Queen transforming the All-Weather Search and Rescue (SAR) capability of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, one member of the 330 Squadron provides first-hand insight into how the helicopter is taking SAR capability to a new level.
Through its role as strategic partner to the UK MOD and one of the UK's leading equipment suppliers to the UK armed forces, Leonardo was proud to support the CSG, comprising 9 ships, 32 helicopters and jet aircraft, and 3,700 sailors, aviators and marines.
The AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin form part of the Royal Navy air carrier group, keeping watch over the new carriers and the surrounding seas, ensuring the ship and its crew are well protected from enemy submarines, surface ships, aircraft and missiles.
The Superior Solution
The AW101 embodies advanced design and technology coupled with long range and endurance, which provides operational persistence for all missions. The versatility of the AW101 platform and a full range of on-board equipment allow operators to configure the helicopter for a wide range of roles including Maritime, Battlefield/Personnel Recovery and SAR. This mission versatility, combined with the most spacious cabin in its class featuring large side sliding doors and rear access ramp, makes the AW101 the most advanced, flexible and capable multi-role helicopter available today.
Rugged and reliable
Military operators require a helicopter that can perform under all conditions, day and night. The AW109 TrekkerM, the military version of the AW109 Trekker, is the new multi-role, light twin-engine helicopter that delivers rugged and reliable capability allied with outstanding mission flexibility, high performance and speed.
Full Spectrum Training
Today’s training missions demand platforms that are effective across the training spectrum. The AW119T, the training-specific version of the AW119Kx, is the ideal solution, combining unmatched versatility, superior power margins and precise handling characteristics. A single aircraft configuration covers all training requirements from ab initio through to advanced training, while the helicopter features outstanding manoeuvrability and a robust design together with best-in-class levels of safety.
Simply no rivals
The multi-role AW139M, the military version of the AW139, meets the demand of military and government missions to perform day and night, in the most challenging environments. It combines advanced technology and high power margins with inherent safety and survivability, alongside the flexibility to add dedicated role equipment, including optional internal and external weapon systems.
Multi-mission performance
Military helicopters must be equipped to perform the most demanding battlefield missions in the harshest environments. The AW149 is a latest-generation medium multi-role military helicopter that delivers the highly effective and survivable capability required by today’s armed forces, combining advanced technologies, equipment and weapons with unparalleled safety and performance characteristics.
AW149: The Leonardo solution for the UK New Medium Helicopter requirement
Naval Force Multiplier
The Multi-Role AW159 delivers unparalleled tactical capability through advanced avionics and mission systems in a compact and robust aircraft. As an evolution of the highly successful Lynx helicopter, the AW159 provides new technology and capability to build on operational experienced across both Maritime and Land Domains.
Next Generation Multirole
Today’s ultra-demanding military missions require a helicopter capable of performing in the most extreme environments. The AW169M – the military version of the AW169 - is the new light intermediate twin-engine helicopter with the class-leading performance and multi-role capability to operate both day and night in austere, urban and challenging ‘hot and high’ conditions.
The New Combat Helicopter
The AW249 is the next-generation combat helicopter designed to operate in the challenging modern battlefield scenarios to provide mission effectiveness. The helicopter represents a step change in technology and capabilities, ensuring operational superiority at all times.
The AW249 is the only helicopter currently in the design phase that combines state-of-the-art technologies, outstanding performance and survivability along with low operating costs.
Mid-Life and Capability Sustainment Upgrades are a key element of Leonardo Helicopters ongoing commitent to its customers. Cost-effective solutions are designed to extend the operational life and improve mission effectiveness of in-service aircrafts. A typical programme introduces modern avionics and mission systems to resolve obsolescence and enhances reliability, maintainability and availability.
Saving lives, protecting heroes
The NH90 is the focal point of Europe’s largest helicopter programme, fulfilling the need for a versatile military asset that excels in both battlefield and maritime roles. The twin-engine, multi-mission NH90 is the most modern and versatile helicopter in its class, developed under the NHIndustries joint venture involving Leonardo Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters and Fokker.