The Italian National Fire Corps (NFC) has taken delivery of its first two AW139 helicopters at Leonardo's Vergiate facility. The aircraft will be used to deliver advanced, more effective emergency response services in Italy.

More than 816,000 rescues and sorties are performed every year countering fires across Europe, including many in Italy, and the AW139s, planned to progressively replace the Italian National Fire Corps AB412s which have been in service for decades, will guarantee optimal coverage and a more rapid responsiveness across the country. The Italian NFC will receive a third AW139 this year under a 45 million euro contract signed in 2018. The contract also includes integrated logistic support and training for pilots and technicians, and encompasses an option for 12 additional helicopters. The first two helicopters will be based in Rome Ciampino for NFC personnel training.

The backbone of the country's rescue services, the AW139 is also in service with the Italy's Guardia di Finanza, State Police, Coast Guard and Air Force. The NFC's AW139s feature a wide range of mission equipment, including an external rescue hoist, cargo hook with bambi bucket provision, weather radar, multi-band and satellite communication systems, high definition Forward Looking Infra-Red/Low Light TV (FLIR/LLTV) system, Leonardo's high definition mission console with digital recorder, high definition down link, Leonardo's Optical Proximity LiDAR System (OPLS), Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capability, new generation Trakka searchlight, emergency floatation system and external life rafts, external loudspeaker, medical rack and bubble windows.

The various Italian Government agencies operating the AW139 are able to benefit from shared logistics, training and support systems. This latest selection by the NFC brings the total number of AW139s chosen by all of these Italian Government operators to 56, covering a wide scope of public utility roles including law enforcement and homeland security, patrol, special operations, SAR, command and control, government/VVIP transport, disaster relief and training. In Italy the AW139 has also proven the helicopter of choice for many EMS operators.

A number of law enforcement, maritime/border patrol and security agencies from countries around the world, including Italy, the UK, USA, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, The Netherlands, Brazil, and UAE, have selected or are already operating the AW139 to fulfil their requirements. Over 270 customers from around 70 nations have already ordered more than 1,100 AW139s, more than 950 of which are in service.