North Macedonia to receive eight Leonardo helicopters

The deal to buy four AW149 and four AW169M helicopters was signed between the North Macedonian Minister of Defence, Slavjanka Petrovska, and the Vice President of Leonardo, Cesare Cacha, in Skopje.

Minister Petrovska emphasized that the recommendation for the procurement of these helicopters was made by the Integrated Project Team, composed of experts in the Ministry of Defence and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, which has been working since 2019.

“With the purchase of the new helicopters, there will be a significant modernization of the aviation component and an increase in the capabilities to perform missions both for the needs of the Army and for the support of other civil institutions of our country,” she said.

In addition to the four AW149 helicopters and four AW169M helicopters, the purchase also includes a logistics support package – equipment that meets the operational requirements for performing specific missions; a set of spare parts and consumables, special tools, and test equipment for both helicopters; simulator and construction of a modern infrastructural facility; and complete training of the flight and technical personnel. The helicopters are expected to arrive between the second half of 2026 and the end of 2028.

Bell Textron and Leonardo recently entered a new partnership to strengthen their bid for NATO’s new medium-lift helicopter program.