The procurement contract, valued at 346 million euros, covers the delivery of 18 AW169M LUHs to replace the Bundesheer’s (Austrian Army) current fleet of Alouette III helicopters.
????#PressRelease #Leonardo and the Directorate for Air Armaments and Airworthiness of the Italian Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate signed the Acquisition Contract for the supply of AW169M LUH to the Austrian Ministry of Defence https://t.co/4Ixs6RqlCU pic.twitter.com/QOkScw2Csg
— Leonardo Helicopters (@LDO_Helicopters) January 13, 2022
According to the published press release, Leonardo and the Directorate for Air Armament and Airworthiness of the Italian General Secretariat of Defense/National Armament Directorate signed yesterday the Procurement Contract for the supply of AW169M light utility helicopters (LUH) to the Austrian Ministry of Defense. The contract was signed in the framework of the Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement between Italy and Austria.
In September 2020, Austria selected the AW169M LUH to replace its aging Alouette IIIs, in service since the 1960s. Leonardo’s product was competing against the Bell 429 and Airbus Germany’s H145M, and despite being the more expensive purchase option, it was ultimately won by the post-sales service benefits.
The program calls for delivery from Leonardo’s final assembly plant in Vergiate (northern Italy) of 18 helicopters, six will be AW169s in the «B» training variant and 12 of the advanced multipurpose «MA» variant with integrated mission equipment and weapons systems. The contract also covers a comprehensive and customized training and support package, which was particularly attractive to the Austrian authorities.
The helicopters will be able to perform a wide range of missions in support of Austrian defense and national community needs, such as troop transport, combat operations, disaster relief and emergency response, firefighting, mountain rescue and MEDEVAC.
The first AW169M LUH is expected to be delivered before the end of the year and all helicopter deliveries are expected to be completed by 2026. The contract also includes options for a further 18 helicopters. Austrian crews will benefit from initial training provided with the support of the Italian Army and its experience as an operator of AW169M LUH (of which it ordered 40 units), and will also benefit from the provision of specific training and simulation devices.
Yesterday’s signature marks the latest step, taken thanks to the preliminary G2G document, which was signed by the Italian Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini, and the Austrian Minister of Defense, Klaudia Tanner, on December 2, 2021. Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini said, «We are pleased with this result that ushers in a new phase of procurement collaboration. It demonstrates the quality of Italian technology and products through international recognition. We really believe that G2G is a very effective industrial policy tool and a smart formula to support exports.»
