Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced an order for additional two AW139 intermediate
twin helicopters by the Italian Coast Guard. This latest contract will
increase the customer’s fleet of AW139s to twelve. The AW139s
will be used to perform a range of missions including maritime patrol,
search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical services. The latest
order also includes options for a further two helicopters. |
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The AW139 was selected by the customer following
a European Tender launched in August 2014 for a second batch acquisition.
The main contract was awarded in 2010 with the AW139 proving to be the
best solution to meet the Italian Coast Guard’s stringent requirements.
Delivery of the first batch of AW139s to the Italian Coast Guard started
in 2010 and since entering service they have proved extremely successful,
performing operations around the Italian coast line and in its maritime
economic exclusive zone.
The Italian Coast Guard’s AW139s feature a wide range of mission
equipment including an external rescue hoist, cargo hook, wire strike
protection system, search/weather radar, marine band and satellite communication
systems, high definition Forward Looking Infra-Red / Low Light TV (FLIR/LLTV)
system, mission console with high definitions displays, Optical Proximity
LiDAR System (OPLS), full Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capability, new
generation Trakka searchlight, emergency floatation system and external
life rafts. The AW139 design incorporates a large spacious cabin for
the crew, equipment and survivors accessed by two large sliding cabin
doors.
The AW139 has also been selected by and is in service with the Italian
State Police, Guardia di Finanza (Customs and Border protection) and
the Italian Air Force. The various Italian Government agencies operating
the AW139 are able to benefit from shared logistics, training and support
systems. This latest contract signed by the Italian Coast Guard brings
the total number of AW139s chosen by all of these Italian government
operators to 41, covering a wide scope of public utility roles including
law enforcement and homeland security, patrol, special operations, search
and rescue, command and control, government/VVIP transport, disaster
relief and training.
Almost 240 customers from over 70 countries have ordered over 960 AW139
helicopters making it the best-selling helicopter in its class. The
AW139 can perform a wide range of roles including government missions,
EMS, SAR, executive/private and government transport, law enforcement,
utility and offshore transport. Many maritime, border patrol and security
agencies from countries around the world, including Italy, Japan, Republic
of Korea, Malaysia, the UK, USA, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, UAE, to name
a few, have selected or are already operating the AW139 to fulfil their
requirements
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