Leonardo made major announcements at Heli-Expo 2023 as it landed global contracts and signed a key collaboration for the USA market for the AW09 helicopter as the next generation single engine programme moves ahead.

Preliminary sales contracts have been signed for over 50 units with customers including Aero Service Representação in Brazil, Synerjet Latina in Colombia, Peru and Chile, Helitech Asia in southeast Asia, Safomar in South Africa, Diskopsa for Panama and Guatemala, Heliflite in Oceania and Aero Facility in Japan.

In addition, an important agreement has been signed between Leonardo and Metro Aviation, one of the largest privately-owned HEMS operators and service providers in the US. The collaboration aims to support the introduction and positioning of the AW09 in the USA and, in doing so, benefits from Metro Aviation’s experience and capabilities in the development of aircraft interiors and STCs, service and training.

Leonardo MD Gian Piero Cutillo states: “What we have announced at Heli-Expo is the culmination of three years’ work through which the AW09 benefited from considerable enhancements and has now reached a final configuration, allowing it to offer the level of competitiveness that the market expects. Indeed, the AW09 is generating a very positive response from all geographies around the world. Rotorcraft companies favour the AW09 for its outstanding features and multirole capabilities that represent a significant evolution compared to existing products in this category. The preliminary sales contracts signed provide clear evidence of it. Also, combining our industrial capabilities with Metro Aviation’s extensive and recognised experience in operations and support enhances the AW09 value proposition, providing superior mission capabilities to the operators of this platform in a prime single engine market like the USA.”

Acquired three years ago by Leonardo, the AW09 complements its product range in the long light single segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain a long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. One of the latest evolutions is the decision to onboard the Arriel 2K engine, the newest member of the Safran engine family.