Engineering:AgustaWestland AW149

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AW149
AW-149 (52229093839).jpg
AW149 over RIAT in 2022
Role Medium-lift military helicopter
National origin Italy
Manufacturer AgustaWestland
Finmeccanica
Leonardo S.p.A.
First flight 13 November 2009
Status In service
Primary users Egyptian Navy
Royal Thai Army
Polish Army
Produced 2009-present
Developed from AgustaWestland AW139
Variants AgustaWestland AW189

The AgustaWestland AW149 is a medium-lift multi-role military helicopter developed by AgustaWestland, now Leonardo, launched in 2006. On 20 June 2011 AgustaWestland announced the AW189, a civilian development of the AW149, for service in 2013.[1]

Design and development

The AW149 was unveiled at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show. Derived from the AW139, the AW149 has a larger fuselage and more powerful engines, resulting in a greater cargo volume and payload carrying ability.[2] On 13 November 2009, the first prototype conducted its first flight from AgustaWestland's Vergiate manufacturing facility in northern Italy.[3] On 26 February 2011, the second prototype, the first with production model engines, made its first flight from Vergiate.[4]

Operational history

Military certification for the AW149 was announced by Finmeccanica at the 2014 Farnborough airshow.[5] The landing gear can sustain a touchdown with a sink speed of 9.5 m/s, compared with the 2 m/s for a civilian helicopter. The AW149 is being marketed as an alternative to the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk family. Thailand has ordered 5 AW149 helicopters, and is the first export customer.[6][7] The Italian Air Force considered it as a search and rescue helicopter, but chose the lighter AW139M instead.

In April 2019, the Egyptian Navy ordered 24 AW149s with option for 10 more; first deliveries took place in late 2020.[8][9][10]

AgustaWestland submitted a version of the AW149, designated TUHP149, as a candidate for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) for the Turkish Armed Forces. The programme sought an initial batch of 109 helicopters worth $4 billion, prospective follow-on orders for subsequent batches may eventually rise to 300 rotorcraft.[11][12] On 21 April 2011, the Turkish defence minister announced that the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk had been selected as the winner.[13]

Leonardo has proposed the AW149 for the UK's New Medium Helicopter programme, which aims to replace the RAF's Puma helicopters, with production to be at Leonardo's Yeovil factory if the bid is successful.[14]

In June 2022 Polish defence minister said Poland would order 32 AW149 helicopters, with production to be at Leonardo's PZL Świdnik factory.[15][16][17] The contract was signed on July 1, 2022, and has a value of $1.85 billion (€1.76 billion). Delivery planned in years 2023-2029.[18][19]

Operators

 Egypt
  • Egyptian Navy[8][20][9][10] (24 ordered in 2019 with options for 10 more; 5 delivered in 2020, 5 delivered in 2021)
 Poland
  • Polish Army[21] (32 ordered in 2022, delivery planned from 2023 to 2029)
 Thailand
  • Royal Thai Police[22] (1 in service)
  • Royal Thai Army[22] (5 in service)

Specifications (AW149)

Data from AgustaWestland.[23]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 18 max or; 12 combat laden troops or 2,720 kg external sling load
  • Length: 17.57 m (57 ft 8 in)
  • Width: 3.06 m (0 in)
  • Height: 5.14 m (16 ft 10 in)
  • Gross weight: 8,600 kg (18,959 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Safran Aneto-1K , 1,715 kW (2,300 hp) each Maximum continuous power[24]
  • Main rotor diameter: 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 310 km/h (190 mph, 170 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (497 mi, 432 nmi)
  • Endurance: 4 hours

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "AgustaWestland Unveils The AW189 Helicopter". AgustaWestland. 20 June 2011. http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustawestland-unveils-aw189-helicopter. 
  2. ↑ [1] [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  3. ↑ "AW149 & AW159 complete first flights". Australian Aviation. 16 November 2009. http://australianaviation.com.au/2009/11/aw149-aw159-complete-first-flights/. 
  4. ↑ "AW149 Makes Its Public Premiere At The 2011 Paris Air Show". AgustaWestland. 20 June 2011. http://www.agustawestland.com/news/aw149-makes-its-public-premiere-2011-paris-air-show. 
  5. ↑ "Military certification for the AW149" Leonardo, July 2014.
  6. ↑ Sompong Nondhasa."Thai Army puts faith in Leonardo" Shephard Media, 18 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Royal Thai Army buys AW149 and six AW139s". Jeremy Parkin. Helihub. 9 December 2016. http://helihub.com/2016/12/09/exclusive-royal-thai-army-buys-aw149-and-six-aw139s/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cabirol, Michel (25 April 2019). "Armement : mais qu'est-ce qui se passe entre la France et l'Egypte" (in French). https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/armement-mais-qu-est-ce-qui-se-passe-entre-la-france-et-l-egypte-815119.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 [2] [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Perry, Dominic (18 January 2021). "Egyptian AW149 fleet grows with late 2020 deliveries". https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/egyptian-aw149-fleet-grows-with-late-2020-deliveries/142001.article. 
  11. ↑ Engínsoy, Ümít (21 March 2011). "Turkish defense panel may select new copter type Tuesday". Hürriyet Daily News. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=defense-panel-may-select-new-copter-type-tuesday-2011-03-21. 
  12. ↑ Osbek, Tolga."Turkey to decide in June between AW149, 'T-70' Black Hawk." Flight International, 9 April 2007.
  13. ↑ Ozbek, Tolga (21 April 2011). "Sikorsky wins Turkish utility helicopter battle". Flight Global. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/21/355885/sikorsky-wins-turkish-utility-helicopter-battle.html. 
  14. ↑ Perry, Dominic (14 September 2021). "Leonardo Helicopters boosts UK content on AW149 for NMH bid". https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/leonardo-helicopters-boosts-uk-content-on-aw149-for-nmh-bid/145462.article. 
  15. ↑ "Polska kupuje śmigłowce AW149 w programie Perkoz" (in pl). https://defence24.pl/sily-zbrojne/polska-kupuje-smiglowce-aw149-w-programie-perkoz. 
  16. ↑ "Poland Plans To Buy AW149 Fleet, Defense Minister Says". https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/poland-plans-buy-aw149-fleet-defense-minister-says. 
  17. ↑ "Leonardo set to benefit from Polish military helicopter order" (in en). Reuters. 2022-06-14. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/leonardo-set-benefit-polish-military-helicopter-order-2022-06-14/. 
  18. ↑ "Umowa na dostawę 32 śmigłowców AW149 podpisana". http://dziennikzbrojny.pl/aktualnosci/news,1,11660,aktualnosci-z-polski,umowa-na-dostawe-32-smiglowcow-aw149-podpisana. 
  19. ↑ "Perkoz zakupiony w Świdniku". https://defence24.pl/przemysl/perkoz-zakupiony-w-swidniku. 
  20. ↑ Perry, Dominic (25 April 2019). "AW149 helicopter nets crucial export order from Egypt". London. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aw149-helicopter-nets-crucial-export-order-from-egyp-457686/. 
  21. ↑ "Polska kupuje śmigłowce AW149 w programie Perkoz". https://defence24.pl/sily-zbrojne/polska-kupuje-smiglowce-aw149-w-programie-perkoz. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/21905/waf/. 
  23. ↑ "AW149". Italy. http://www.agustawestland.com/product/aw149-0. 
  24. ↑ "AW149 brochure". https://www.leonardocompany.com/documents/20142/10287733/BROCHURE+AW149+-+Mk0120_Mar2020.pdf?t=1584705906549. 

External links



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