First Italian Air Force HH-101A CAESAR enters service
The Italian Air Force’s first HH-101A ‘CAESAR’, a version of the AW101 helicopter, has entered into operational service.
The Italian Air Force’s first HH-101A ‘CAESAR’, a version of the AW101 helicopter, has entered into operational service. An official ceremony was held at Cervia Air Base on 25 February.
A total of four CAESARs, out of a total requirement of 15, have been delivered from the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division assembly line in Yeovil, UK. They will be used to perform personnel recovery and special forces operations. The HH-101As will also support missions such as SAR and medevac.
Among the installed equipement on each machine are three M134 7.62 mm pintle-mounted Gatling-type machine guns installed on right and left sides and on the rear ramp, armoured cockpit seats, ballistic protection for machine gun operators as well as for critical systems, and an integrated electronic warfare system. The HH-101A also features an air-to-air refuelling kit for extended range operations.