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AW149 medium class helicopter

The all new AW149, now under development, has been designed to meet a potential Italian Air Force requirement for a new medium class SAR helicopter with certification expected in 2013. The AW149 answers a growing demand for the next generation, affordable, multi-purpose medium class helicopter, for military and government agencies. Fully digitised and with an open systems architecture (OSA) and fully integrated mission equipment, the AW149 is designed for the modern battlefield. With a rugged construction incorporating crashworthy features, such as up to eighteen crashworthy troop seats and excellent access and egress, the AW149 maximises survivability. Twin engines ensure high performance in hot and high conditions. A 4-axis auto-pilot and advanced latest generation avionics system serves to minimise crew work load. The aircraft can also be configured to carry a variety of weapons and stores on external carriers. The AW149 is suited to battlefield support, combat SAR, reconnaissance, surveillance, medical evacuation, search and rescue (SAR) and command and control support roles.

• BATTLEFIELD SUPPORT The large, unobstructed cabin and baggage compartment provides the capability to accommodate up to 16 troops or 12 fully equipped soldiers. With the external cargo hook, up to 2720 kg / 6000 lb of heavy equipment can be transported to the battlefield. Two large sliding cabin doors and 12.4 cu. m of internal cargo space offer exceptional transport capability.
• COMMAND AND CONTROL The spacious cabin gives the command staff an unprecedented workspace for C3 dedicated equipment and for 2 workstations.
• MEDICAL EVACUATION The 3 m long by 2.26 m wide and 1.45 high cabin provides the capability to accommodate 2 to 6 stretchers leaving enough space for 4 attendants and in-flight medical care equipment.
• SEARCH AND RESCUE - CSAR For Combat Search And Rescue missions a rescue hoist and other specific mission equipment and armaments can be provided. CSAR crew concept envisages 2 pilots plus 2/4 crew members.

The AW149 delivers best-in-class performance, including superior hover performance, a cruise speed in excess of 150kts, a maximum range greater than 650 nm (1,200 km) and endurance of up to 5 hours. With powerful CT7 engines, the AW149 assures superior performance and controllability in extreme hot-and-high environments or harsh conditions, allowing maximum payloads in all challenging operational theatres. The AW149’s exceptional power margin provides even in OEI conditions the performance capability needed to achieve mission success, whatever the mission.

The ergonomic low-workload, high situational awareness Glass Cockpit philosophy is based upon four large Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (8 x 10 inches) with integral input keys and a track ball on the inter-seat console for rapid selection of functions. Mission capabilities are further supported by a state-of-the-art integrated digital avionics system with powerful mission computers. The ARINC 429 and MIL-STD 1553B data bus, enable easy integration of mission equipment for maximum operational effectiveness. The dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and 4-axis digital AFCS further contribute to reduced pilot workload and increased situational awareness.

The AW149’s ergonomic cockpit design, outstanding external visibility, excellent handling characteristics and low vibration levels together with innovative instrument solutions minimise pilot fatigue to allow the crew to concentrate on mission objectives. Advanced open avionics architecture, mission processing, tactical displays and data link ensure the AW149 is fully integrated into today’s Network-Enabled operating environment.

The AW149 has a large (11.2 m³), easily-accessible, unobstructed main cabin. It has the capacity to carry heavily laden troops quickly to their drop-off point in support of high tempo operations with all the equipment for the task. The Customer can choose from modular fuel tank options to suit the mission type. The generous 2.4 m³ cargo area can also be made accessible from the main cabin. This enables ready storage for mission equipment such as stretchers and medical kit whilst keeping the troop cabin free of carry on equipment.

The cabin layout can be quickly converted to suit changing tasks, such as CSAR, CASEVAC and troop transport. Options range from an 8-man section in full battle order with section support weapons plus two door gunners to 18 soldiers in ferry configuration. Alternatively, the ample space may be utilised for a wide variety of tailored mission and role equipment including NATO standard litters.

The AW149 has large sliding doors on both sides making the AW149 an excellent platform for rapid boarding and egress. This design ensures fast recovery of stretchers on the ground or in flight using the hoist whilst allowing simultaneous cover fire from window-mounted weapons (7.62mm/ 12.7mm machine gun). Low floor height enables ease of loading and unloading cargo through cabin doors. Hard points enable fast roping and rappelling from both sides of the cabin.

PZL-Swidnik, the Polish company fully owned by Leonardo, was awarded a contract on 02 July 2022 by the Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) worth 8.25 billion PLN gross (approximately EUR 1.76 billion) for the supply of 32 AW149 multirole helicopters. The state-of-the-art AW149 helicopters will be able to carry out missions including troop transport and air support; the contract also includes logistics, training and simulator packages.

The new helicopters will carry out missions including troop transport and air support. The equipment of the helicopters will also allow them to be used for casualty evacuation, search and rescue in combat operations and for the transport of goods and supplies. The helicopters’ configuration, fully meeting the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces, will also include, among others, observation systems, small arms, guided/unguided rockets and missiles and self-defence systems. The armament, depending on the helicopter variant and configuration, can be installed in the cabin or on the helicopter's external hard points. The deliveries of the helicopters will be made in the 2023-2029 period.

Acting as the prime contractor, PZL-Swidnik will host a local production line for these new helicopters. Leonardo will therefore undertake further investments in its Polish facility in addition to approximately 1 billion EUR already invested since 2010, which has significantly strengthened the competitiveness and the industrial capabilities of PZL-Swidnik. This provides an important contribution to the Polish aerospace and defence industry, which will enable domestic production, the establishment of a logistic base and thorough technical support for the Polish MoD’s AW149s, in line with Leonardo and PZL-Swidnik’s commitment to deliver industrial benefits to Poland.

The British Army’s battle-winning capability is to be bolstered with a new generation of high-speed medium helicopters. The announcement was made in the Defence Command Paper, released earlier this month as part of the Integrated Review. It will form part of the Army’s programme of transformation, Future Soldier, which will deliver an Army that is leaner, lighter, faster to respond, and more effectively matched to current and future threats. The New Medium Helicopter Programme would see four of the medium-sized helicopters currently in service across Defence replaced by one new helicopter. This will include the Bell 212 that is used by the Army Air Corps in the jungle areas of Brunei.

A broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods and operational concepts will be used in the design of the bespoke medium helicopter that will bring maximum capability and cost saving benefits to all three services, and keep the Army at the leading edge of technology. The helicopters will be operated jointly by the Army and RAF under Joint Helicopter Command and will be able to be deployed rapidly and access terrain which is less accessible to heavy lift helicopters. As part of Future Soldier, the Army will become more agile, more integrated and more expeditionary, with more of the Army deployed across the globe more of the time.

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme is procuring a modern, medium-lift support helicopter which will deliver up to five rotary wing requirements using a single aircraft type. This will improve efficiency and operational flexibility, positively impacting ongoing and future operational capability. Once in service, it will be capable of operating in all environments in support of a broad spectrum of Defence tasks, from warfighting to humanitarian efforts and operations around the world.

The UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support issued the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) 27 February 2024 to three bidders in the running to provide UK Armed forces with a new rotary-wing capability. The three bidders – Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK – would now compile their bids to be evaluated by DE&S in 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award was anticipated.

Dominic Perry reported 30 August 2024 that Leonardo Helicopters was the sole remaining bidder for the UK’s ongoing New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest after rivals Airbus Helicopters and Sikorsky confirmed they were withdrawing from the competition.

The AW149 was Leonardo's solution for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement. Leonardo's AW149 multi-role helicopter is our latest-generation battlefield platform, reconfigurable for a wide range of demanding missions in the most severe operational environments. Advanced platform and system technologies, equipment and weapons; coupled with unparalleled safety and performance, and high levels of survivability and crashworthiness; provides military customers with a highly effective, survivable and cost-effective capability.

An Open Systems Architecture enables the rapid and low cost integration of new equipment to meet changing military requirements. Leonardo has an active AW149 supply chain and is therefore able to deliver 'Military off-the-shelf' aircraft in less than 24 months. Choosing a British-made helicopter – the Leonardo AW149 – as the UK's next military helicopter, would create a cutting-edge new production line in Yeovil. It would be an investment in UK skills, design and manufacturing, and intellectual property, which would support thousands of jobs, boost exports and contribute significantly to the UK aerospace industry.

Leonardo is the UK’s largest manufacturer of the sensors and electronic systems which sit under the skin of the world’s most advanced aircraft, effectively acting as their brains, senses and nervous systems. Protecting pilots, alerting air crews to threats and providing unrivalled situational awareness, our world-class engineering and technology informs decision-making and helps ensure that those in harm’s way come home safely. More than 70 companies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland form the onshore Team AW149 UK supply chain for Leonardo's latest-generation military AW149 helicopter.