Leonardo AW249 meeting modern operational requirements

The AW249 will feature all the latest technology developments in its market segment and will benefit from the design leadership of Leonardo. The open systems architecture will guarantee future growth capabilities and the state-of-the-art communication and battlefield management system will provide interoperability and teaming with other platforms in a network-centric battlefield. The mission system will feature a number of situational awareness aids to reduce pilot workload and increase safety. 

The helicopter, compliant with the most rigorous safety requirements, will ensure high safety and survivability thanks to Advanced Integrated Defensive Aids Suite, ballistic tolerance, crashworthiness and low detectability. 

With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) in the range of seven to eight tonnes, the AW249 will have speed and endurance to sustain the most difficult attack, close air support and armed escort operations, while the two powerful engines will allow for operations in all environment conditions (hot and high, cold weather). Shipboard operational capability will be designed in from the start. 

Main features include: mission system enables teaming with UAVs, high speed and endurance to escort transport and multirole helicopters, lower life-cycle costs than previous generation helicopters thanks to the extensive operational expertise and advanced design philosophy of Leonardo, maximisation of situational awareness through advanced mission systems (net-centric capability), low detectability (e.g. low signature, high agility), ballistic tolerance LEONARDO (e.g. redundancy, separation of critical systems, dry run capability of drive system, armoured seats, ballistic tolerant fuel tanks), crashworthiness (e.g. crashworthy airframe, seats and fuel tanks), six wing store stations able to carry mixed/asymmetric weapon loads such as air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, unguided/guided rockets and external fuel tanks, and a 20mm nose mounted turreted gun. 

The modern design and open architecture of the AW249 allow for international collaboration for co-development, high customisation, localised industrial activities, and servicing through the life cycle based on national requirements. The AW249 is being presented and offered for a range of requirements worldwide.