Austria orders 18 more AW169M LUH helicopters
Ministry of Defence exercises option with Leonardo and Italian government for the supply of 18 more AW169M Light Utility Helicopters (LUH)
The new batch of aircraft is valued at €304 million, expanding the number of AW169M LUHs being supplied to Austria to 36.
Deliveries of the first batch of 18 aircraft – ordered under a government-to-government agreement between Italy and Austria – are underway.
The first AW169M LUH was delivered in December. The amendment which made the option to purchase the second batch available was signed alongside this delivery.
The helicopters are intended to replace Austria’s ageing Alouette III fleet, serving in a wide range of roles including troop transport, combat operations, disaster relief and emergency response, firefighting, mountain rescue and medical evacuation.
Leonardo has confirmed that Austrian crews have already begun initial training with the aircraft at its Training Academy in Sesto Calende.
Deliveries of the full fleet of 36 helicopters are due to be completed by 2028.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.