Leonardo has delivered the first of 17 multirole HH-139B twin-engine helicopters to the Italian Air Force from its plant in Vergiate. Deliveries of the AW139 variant are expected to be completed in 2021.
The new helicopters will be operated by the Italian Air Force’s 15th Wing, which is in charge of search and rescue (SAR) duties and supports disaster relief operations, and will join an existing fleet of 13 multirole HH-139As and four VH-139As. The latter are used for government transport missions. Compared to the HH-139A, the HH-139B features new electro-optics, radar, rescue hoist, and cabin mission console. Core avionics feature Phase 8 software enabling expanded navigation and mission capabilities. Each aircraft is reconfigurable from SAR to medevac or firefighting.
The AW139 has also been selected by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, State Police, Coast Guard, National Fire Corps, and Carabinieri, in addition to several emergency medical service operators. This latest Italian Air Force’s program brings the total number of AW139s chosen by Italian government operators to nearly 80, flying parapublic missions including law enforcement and homeland security, patrol, special operations and anti-terrorism, SAR, firefighting, command and control, government/VVIP transport, disaster relief, and training.