Fashionable, modular, and NATO-ready, the AW149 is rising as Europe’s subsequent technology medium multirole helicopter constructed for the fashionable battlefield.
Constructing on Leonardo’s in depth expertise within the army helicopter sector, the AW149 is turning into more and more fashionable as a contemporary technology medium multi-role helicopter within the 8-9-ton class. In lower than 20 years, the Leonardo AW149 has gone from idea to entrance‑line service, carving out a status as a extremely survivable, militarily succesful and, particularly lately, internationally sought‑after platform.
Recent of the win of a procurement contract for the Malaysian authorities, the AW149 is being marketed as the best resolution for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter program, for which Leonardo is the only bidder. The helicopter additionally just lately entered service in Poland, the primary European operator of the sort.
Within the days previous this yr’s version of the Royal Worldwide Air Tattoo, The Aviationist had an opportunity to attend a briefing with Leonardo Helicopters targeted on the AW149.
Leonardo AW149
The AW149 is a medium helicopter, which could be employed in numerous tactical eventualities based mostly on the newest army necessities. On the similar time, the AW149 follows design and engineering philosophies which permit the helicopter to be interoperable with all belongings concerned in at present’s quickly evolving eventualities, with a forward-looking concentrate on multi area operations.
The AW149 was born with the multi-role functionality in thoughts, particularly with a big unobstructed cabin which could be quickly and simply reconfigured to help totally different roles. Avionics and communications, together with Situational consciousness and tactical state of affairs illustration, are additionally one other focus, with potential for steady progress as expertise and necessities adjustments.
The helicopter completes Leonardo’s army medium helicopter provide, becoming a member of the lighter AW169M and AW139M. The AW149 obtained an essential business success in current instances, with orders and curiosity demonstrated all over the world.
Multi-role medium helicopter
The AW149 has a most take-off of 8,600 kg, with a big 11.2 cubic meters cabin which may carry 16 absolutely kitted troops. The helicopter is rated for each single and twin pilot operation in VFR and IFR situations, day and night time.
As for many army helicopters, the AW149 is NVG-ready (Night time Imaginative and prescient Googles) and outfitted with IR formation gentle for night time tactical operations. Equally, the helicopter is all-weather and may work in desert situations, with filters for the air intakes, and icing situations, due to an ice safety system, optionally accessible in a restricted and full safety variant.
The helicopter has been thought because the preliminary design as a multi-role platform. Due to this, the design consists of options to permit fast configuration adjustments with out the necessity for particular gear and specialised personnel, straight on the flight line.
With over 240,000 flight hours accrued and greater than 80 items delivered or on order as of April 2025, the AW149 is steadily gaining traction as a mature and confirmed design.
Mission flexibility and modularity
Aerial mission profiles for the AW149 span tactical transport for each common troops and Particular Operations Forces, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Fight SAR, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), Shut Air Help (CAS), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), aerial resupply, and Head of State transport.
The helicopter can make use of a barycentric cargo hook with a 2.8 tons functionality. The hook has two cameras which give a visible of the load, the hook and the touchdown gear, which additionally enable to verify the touchdown gear whereas touchdown on unprepared surfaces.
The design permits speedy reconfiguration by way of mission kits together with EO/IR turret, rescue hoist, stretchers, cargo hooks, searchlights, crew served machine weapons, and precision armaments like rocket pods and air-to-ground missiles. A devoted mission console can be put in within the cabin, capable of interface with the methods put in on the helicopter, in addition to transmitting knowledge to and receiving knowledge from different belongings.
Configuration swaps can happen inside hours, supporting agile mission adaptability—a key asset in hybrid conflicts with shifting operational calls for.
Primary options
The AW149 combines strong engineering with battlefield-oriented design options to ship excessive ranges of survivability, reliability, and mission adaptability. On the core of the platform is a totally articulated predominant and tail rotor system that enhances stability and gust rejection, that are important for operations in turbulent or confined environments the place army helicopters would possibly function.
Two Common Electrical CT7-2E1 engines, supported by a Safran e-APU60 Auxiliary Energy Unit, present ample energy and redundancy. In its place, the helicopter can make use of Safran Aneto-1K engines, based mostly on the client’s requirement.
A run‑dry-capable predominant gearbox can maintain operations for 50 minutes, guaranteeing a protected return to pleasant territory and land exterior of hostile territory. In comparison with different producers, Leonardo says it has added particular procedures within the flight handbook for these operations.
The helicopter’s low middle of gravity and large wheel monitor contribute to wonderful floor dealing with and stability throughout insertion or extraction on unprepared surfaces. Excessive floor clearance of each predominant and tail rotors improves security for disembarking troops and permits deployment in tight touchdown zones.
A crashworthy and marinized airframe ensures survivability in each land-based and overwater missions. The crashworthiness and survivability have been an essential a part of the design, as Leonardo documented on its web site in a two-part sequence which described how the helicopter was designed with battlefield survivability in thoughts.
The spacious 11.2 cubic meters cabin is totally unobstructed, permitting for versatile reconfiguration throughout transport, CASEVAC, MEDEVAC, or command roles. The cockpit options 4 giant 10×8-inch multifunction shows, absolutely suitable with night time imaginative and prescient goggles (NVG), and integrates a four-axis digital automated flight management system (AFCS), additionally with mission profile modes, to scale back pilot workload throughout complicated missions.
A clear‑sheet army design
The AW149 was engineered from day one as a army asset, not an adaptation of a civilian platform. This differentiates the helicopters from Leonardo’s different army helicopters within the medium class, the AW169M and AW139M, which have been developed from the civilian platforms though with a dual-use design in thoughts.
Some options clearly mirror this sturdy militarization selection for the AW149, just like the excessive clearance touchdown gear robustness, the presence of an Auxiliary Energy Unit as baseline and the open avionics redundancy. The presence of an APU is a facet that should not be underestimated, because it permits to maintain self-sufficient operations in distant areas with restricted help, along with offering elevated security as emergency energy backup.
Years later, a civilian 8-9 ton class platform, known as the AW189, was developed in response to the market’s want for a super-medium helicopter. The totally different naming of the 2 platforms additional highlights that, whereas there’s commonality stemming from an initially designed shared platform idea, the 2 helicopters are totally different machines underneath many points.
The AW149 contains a structurally strong, marinized airframe assembly at present’s armed forces requirements. Engineered survivability is embedded: important methods are bodily segregated, with redundant methods in reverse positions to have what is known as a line clearance. The gas methods make use of self‑sealing tanks, and rotors are ballistically rated to resist 12.7 mm AP rounds, retaining 90 minutes operation submit‑harm.
The capabilities
Leonardo positions the AW149 as a high-performance, mission-ready helicopter that meets the evolving operational wants of each NATO and export clients. The plane’s worth proposition is centered on 5 key pillars: interoperability, efficiency, safety, adaptability, and survivability.
Designed to seamlessly combine into NATO-standard communication and mission networks, the AW149 helps tactical radios, datalinks, and video hyperlinks—facilitating joint operations throughout allied forces. Its excessive power-to-weight ratio permits distinctive payload and endurance efficiency, even in hot-and-high situations.
On the battlefield, the AW149 could be configured with a variety of armaments together with HMP400 machine gun pods, rocket pods, and AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, giving it credible hearth help capabilities in escort or shut air help (CAS) roles. The helicopter can function with uneven armament, and even with armament solely on one facet, with out affecting the middle of gravity, which stays within the prescribed limits in each configuration.
Survivability is additional enhanced by a complete suite of defensive methods: a full digital warfare system (EWS), infrared suppression, ballistic safety, and crashworthy structure enable the platform to function in denied or high-threat environments. The EWS suite integrates missile, radar, and laser warning receivers, in addition to chaff/flare dispensers.
These methods, mixed with anti‑spoof GPSs, encrypted comms, and IFF, allow contested‑airspace operations. It additionally helps complicated mission profiles comparable to fast-roping, aerial surveillance, hoisting operations, and cargo supply.
A variety of mission kits can be found to customise the helicopter based mostly on mission wants. Amongst these are Search and Surveillance Radar, EO/IR turret, engines and APU Inlet Barrier Filter, ballistic protections and fast-roping and rappelling methods.
For overwater operations, the helicopter could be outfitted with emergency flotation gear, life rafts, maritime transponders (AIS), and direction-finding methods, additional broadening its mission envelope. Moreover, SAR modes can be found for the autopilot to help SAR operations.
The AW149 can also be designed to ship strong hearth help capabilities, with provisions for a variety of externally mounted weapon methods that improve its operational effectiveness in fight missions, along with 7.62 machine gun pintles. The helicopter is provided with two exterior weapon carriers, permitting integration of each guided and unguided munitions relying on mission necessities.
These hardpoints can help HMP400 12.7 mm machine gun pods, 7 and 19 tubes launchers for 70 mm rockets -either guided or unguided – and air-to-ground missiles such because the AGM-114 Hellfire on twin or quadruple rail launchers. Importantly, this weapons integration is supported by the plane’s modular open structure, permitting seamless sensor and concentrating on system upgrades to align with future threats and mission calls for.
Leonardo emphasizes that the AW149 helicopter is probably the most fashionable in its class, designed with fashionable threats and future operational calls for in thoughts. Among the many peculiar options, the corporate mentions a compact exterior footprint, smaller than older helicopters such because the Black Hawk.
The plane’s open-architecture avionics and mission methods provide most flexibility for future upgrades or role-specific customization, guaranteeing long-term relevance and ease of integration with evolving expertise. These are developed in-house by Leonardo, making even faster the introduction of recent capabilities.
Security is a key focus of this machine, integrating security ideas from each the army and civilian methods. The AW149 advantages from a clean-sheet design that comes with classes discovered from many years of army helicopter operations.
UK New Medium Helicopter
Rising as the only contender within the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program—following Airbus and Sikorsky’s August 2024 withdrawal—the AW149 is at the moment on the middle of the negotiations between Leonardo and the British Ministry of Protection. This system would procure a fleet of recent medium-lift help helicopters , with numbers but to be confirmed, with one key requirement of NMH being to offer as a lot worth to UK-based business as doable.
Although lengthy anticipated beforehand, the NMH program was formally initiated following the Defence in a Aggressive Age command paper revealed by the UK MoD in 2021. The paper recognized the requirement for a brand new medium carry helicopter to enter service with the British army within the mid 2020s, changing the Puma HC2, Bell 212, Griffin HAR2 and Dauphin AH1.
The MoD’s Defence Tools & Help (DE&S) company, which is accountable for the NMH program, says it’s procuring a contemporary, medium-lift help helicopter which can ship as much as 5 rotary wing necessities utilizing a single plane kind, bettering effectivity and operational flexibility. As soon as in service, the helicopter will probably be able to working in all environments in help of a broad spectrum of duties, from warfighting to humanitarian efforts and operations all over the world.
Leonardo earmarked the historic helicopter manufacturing facility at Yeovil, residence of Westland Helicopters, for any UK AW149 order. The corporate has lengthy maintained that it’s the most pure possibility for a authorities seeking to enhance home-grown companies, using current amenities and promising that as much as 70% of through-life funding for the AW149 could be inside the UK.
The NMH contract, underneath the unique schedule, was on account of be formally awarded in 2025. Leonardo Helicopters couldn’t touch upon this system as a result of ongoing negotiations, nonetheless the newest studies state that the MoD is at the moment evaluating Leonardo’s bid, with outcomes nonetheless anticipated by the top of the yr.
“Following profitable negotiations with the Ministry of Defence, we’ve got submitted our ‘greatest and ultimate provide’ for the New Medium Helicopter programme,” stated to Flight World Nigel Colman, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters UK. “Our bid, to supply the AW149 helicopter made on the Residence of British Helicopters in Yeovil, fulfils the quick functionality necessities of the UK armed forces and can keep a significant a part of our onshore defence industrial base. We’re additionally assured that our provide represents worth for cash in sustaining British jobs, expertise, innovation and progress.”
The DE&S confirmed the continued analysis, saying Leonardo’s proposal “will probably be evaluated via 2025 when, topic to authorities approvals, a contract award is anticipated”.
Ought to the UK embrace the AW149, the helicopter would acquire one other prestigious NATO consumer, reinforcing interoperability and inspiring collaborative doctrine. A range by the UK MoD would offer essential credentials for the helicopter, and its worldwide attain may pave the best way for brand new alternatives.
Export success
Though Italy hasn’t positioned orders but for the sort, focusing to this point on fleet modernizations plans pushed by different weight/measurement class plane just like the AW169M and AW139/AW139M according to ageing varieties to be regularly changed, the AW149 has progressively obtained rising export success as a substitute, with particular {qualifications} delivered by nations which have chosen the sort assembly their particular customization wants.
Egypt turned the primary confirmed operator, putting an order for twenty-four helicopters in 2019. Italian Authorities’s paperwork point out the export authorization in 2019 for a package deal of 32 helicopters, of which 24 have been AW149s and the remaining eight have been AW189s. Net sources point out preliminary deliveries passed off between late 2020 and early 2021, validating the platform’s efficiency in demanding situations.
In Poland, a significant procurement milestone was reached in July 2022, when the Ministry of Nationwide Protection signed a contract valued at PLN 8.25 billion (roughly €1.76 billion) for 32 AW149 helicopters. The deal included not solely airframes, but additionally coaching methods, simulators, logistics help, and a full suite of mission gear. Simply 15 months later, in October 2023, the primary two plane have been formally accepted into service by the twenty fifth Air Cavalry Brigade.
Leonardo additional expanded its industrial footprint in Poland by opening a devoted AW149 manufacturing line at PZL-Świdnik in June 2024. The ability now serves as the first manufacturing hub for future Polish airframes and, by February 2025, the primary AW149 absolutely in-built Świdnik rolled off the road.
North Macedonia has dedicated to buying 4 AW149, as a part of a broader modernization effort that additionally consists of 4 AW169Ms. The whole package deal, valued at roughly €330 million in accordance with numerous sources though Leonardo didn’t verify this data, is aimed toward changing the nation’s ageing Mi-8/17 and Mi-24 helicopter fleet.
The AW149 was chosen following a aggressive analysis course of in early 2024, the place it emerged due to its flexibility, logistical help package deal, and cost-effectiveness. The procurement contract was formally signed in March 2024, with deliveries anticipated to start in mid-2026
Malaysia introduced at LIMA 2025 an formidable helicopter modernization additionally involving the AW149. Though the worth was not confirmed by Leonardo, the deal is alleged to be valued at roughly RM 16.5 billion (~USD 3.4 billion) by numerous Malaysian media sources and covers a 15‑yr lease of as much as 28 helicopters by Weststar, additionally together with AW149s, operated via Weststar Aviation Companies, with deliveries slated for 2026–2027.
Below this association, among the many totally different fashions, the programme additionally contains AW149 helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Air Power and the Royal Malaysian Military, for Fight Search and Rescue, Troop Transport and utility purposes.
The Aviationist want to thank Head of Product Advertising and marketing and Gross sales Engineering Carlo Sacco and VP for Advertising and marketing at Leonardo Helicopters Giacomo Zampetti for the chance to affix the briefing concerning the AW149 and the assistance offered within the preparation of this text.
