Leonardo announced on 27 October that it has signed a contract with Italy’s Carabinieri for the supply of 20 AW119Kx single-engine helicopters for its Air Service.
The aircraft will be assembled at Leonardo’s Vergiate facility (Varese) and deliveries are expected in the 2023-2026 period.
The contract also includes a comprehensive turnkey logistics support package and training services for pilots and maintenance technicians.
The delivery of the helicopters will allow the Carabinieri to meet its fleet modernisation requirements in order to further strengthen and enhance the security of national communities.
This will be made possible by carrying out a range of patrol and reconnaissance tasks over land, identifying critical targets, gathering investigation evidence, as well as supporting ground units’ activities.
Other duties also comprise environment monitoring and protection, and, if asked by National Disaster Relief Authority, fire-fighting in addition to rescue missions.
Gian Piero Cutillo, MD Leonardo Helicopters, said:
“The introduction of the AW119Kx in the Carabinieri Air Service’s fleet ideally integrates the capabilities the operator already has chosen thanks to the AW139s and AW169s. The helicopters respond to the wide spectrum of the Air Service’s requirements considering their national duties and an evolving and increasingly complex operational scenario. We’re proud to continue to support the Carabinieri with capabilities that are able to face new security challenges and benefit the national communities”.
