Leonardo receives two Japanese AW169 orders
Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, an authorized distributor for Leonardo in Japan, has received two new orders for AW169 helicopters
One of the aircraft will be used by a local Japanese public sector firefighting organization, while the other has been secured for ‘upcoming opportunities in the country’, Leonardo stated.
The orders were announced at the Paris International Air Show, and will bring the number of AW169s operating in Japan to eight.
The firefighting AW169 will be the second aircraft of its type in Japan to be used for firefighting and disaster relief missions, and is scheduled to arrive in the country in mid-2024. The aircraft will then undergo local customization, before being handed over to the customer in 2025.
The aircraft will feature a range of equipment, including an obstacle proximity light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), weather radar, a search light, a rescue hoist, and a Bambi bucket.
Mitsui Bussan Aerospace previously announced orders for six Leonardo AW139s from Japanese operators earlier this year.