This helicopter model has advanced digital technology solutions for flight and missions as well as training
28 June 2021: Italian Air Force recently received HH-139B, a dedicated Air Force variant of the AW139 type from Leonardo. The aircraft will be used for a wide range of missions including SAR – Search and Rescue, fire-fighting, Slow Mover Interceptor. This helicopter model has advanced digital technology solutions for flight and missions as well as training (pilots and maintenance technicians) and support. The AW139 also features modern predictive maintenance and diagnostics solutions allowing accurate, rapid assessment and data processing on the health and usage of aircraft components. This allows more efficient maintenance activities increasing operational effectiveness and safety
Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini said, “National sovereignty, from a military and technological point of view, is preserved today also thanks to this level of excellence and to the synergies among institutions, Defense and industry. Italy has prime industrial capabilities and Leonardo symbolizes a nation, which can leverage a top world-class Aerospace, Defense and Security industry.”
Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo said, “We are proud to provide our capability so that the Italian Air Force’s major duties such as supporting the national community and homeland security are guaranteed. The HH-139B is an iconic product fully representative of national industry’s technology excellence and international competitiveness. The facility in Vergiate – the largest Leonardo helicopter final assembly line with more than 1,000 employees – shows outstanding rotorcraft capabilities in terms of products, manufacturing processes, and professional skills, and is able to maintain Leonardo and Italy at the forefront of innovation in an increasingly strategic and highly competitive sector.”
The AW139s helicopter’s state-of-the-art satellite navigation and synthetic vision system has 3D representations of the external environment on cockpit displays even in poor visibility conditions, advanced collision avoidance and proximity systems, mission sensors and an automatic flight control system, which is able to assist the crew during SAR and hoisting in harsh environmental and weather conditions.. Both flight and maintenance training are extensively delivered in virtual environments and simulation. Crews can therefore maximize their ability to use equipment and leverage the best performance of the product during missions. Maintenance technicians can leverage virtual training therefore increasing technical assistance quality and reliability. All of these capabilities bring greater safety to operations.
The majority of Leonardo helicopters that are manufactured, and the largest number of its helicopter types in the product portfolio, are assembled at the Vergiate facility.
