Advertisement

More AW139 helicopters ordered for Italy

Italy's Coast Guard and Border Protection Service has ordered eight additional AW139 helicopters from Leonardo.

By Richard Tomkins
The Italian government has ordered eight more AW139 medium-lift helicopters for its Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection Services, bringing the total operated by the country up to 53. Photo courtesy of Leonardo
The Italian government has ordered eight more AW139 medium-lift helicopters for its Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection Services, bringing the total operated by the country up to 53. Photo courtesy of Leonardo

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Italy has ordered eight more twin-engine AW139 helicopters for public service and security operations, Leonardo reports.

The orders, worth a total of nearly $132 million, were placed by the Italian Coast Guard and the country's Border Protection Service.

Advertisement

The two AW139 helicopters for the Coast Guard for search-and-rescue missions will be delivered next year, Leonardo said, while the six patrol aircraft will be delivered by 2020.

The AgustaWestland AW139 is a medium-lift aircraft with a maximum speed of 193 miles per hour and an endurance of nearly six hours. With acquisition of the eight additional aircraft the two organizations will have 14 AW139s each, and bring the total used by Italian public services to 53.

Additional contract details were not disclosed.

Latest Headlines