Leonardo announced on December 11 further orders for its AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter for public service and security operations in Italy, with contracts for eight aircraft valued at approximately 112 million euro.
The Italian Coast Guard has signed a contract for two AW139s to perform search and rescue missions, with deliveries to be completed by the end of 2018, while the Italian Customs and Border Protection Service (Guardia di Finanza) has ordered six to perform patrol operations, with deliveries to be completed by 2020.
With these aircraft deliveries both operators will have a fleet of 14 AW139s each, allowing a further enhancement in mission capability and simplified logistics as they replace ageing AB412 aircraft. The Italian Coast Guard recently passed the 10,000 flight hours milestone with its AW139 fleet, having saved many lives in operation and providing evidence of the outstanding effectiveness, reliability of the aircraft and successful partnership with Leonardo. Italian Customs and Border Protection Service has been using its AW139s for a range of roles across the nation including mountain and maritime patrol and reconnaissance, law enforcement, Search and Rescue (SAR) and homeland security.
Characteristics
| Dimensions | |
| Overall length* | 16.66 m/54 feet 8 inch |
| Overall height* | 4.98 m/16 feet 4 inch |
| Rotor diameter | 13.8 m/45 feet 3 inch |
| Propulsion | |
| Powerplant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C Turboshafts with FADEC |
| Engine Rating | |
| All Engines Operative (AEO) Take off power | 2 × 1,252 kW/2 × 1,679 shp |
| OEI 2.5 min contingency power | 1,396 kW/1,872 shp |
| Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) | |
| Internal load** | 6,400 kg/14,110 lbs |
| External Load | 6,800 kg/14,991 lbs |
| Capacity | |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Passenger seating | Up to 15 in light order, or 8 deployable troops in combat order and 2 armed cabin crew for aircraft protection |
| Stretchers | Up to 4 (with 5 attendants) |
| Baggage compartment | 3.4 m3/120 feet3 |
| Performance: International Standard Atmosphere (ISA); Sea Level (S.L.); Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) | |
| Velocity Never Exceed (VNE); Indicated Air Speed (IAS) | 167 knots/192 mph/310 km/h |
| Cruise Speed | 165 knots/190 mph/306 km/h |
| Rate of Climb | 2,145 feet/min/10.9 m/s |
| Hovering Out of Ground Effect (HOGE) | 8,130 feet/2,478 m |
| Service Ceiling | 20,000 feet/6,096 m |
| OEI service ceiling | 11,600 feet/3,536 m |
| Maximum range*** | 573 NM/659 miles/1,061 km |
| Maximum endurance*** | 5 h 13 min |
* Rotors turning
** An optional MTOW (internal) of 6,800 kg/14,991 lbs is available as kit
*** No reserve, with Auxiliary fuel