Italy has begun the process of contracting a third batch of 29 Leonardo AW249 Fenice attack helicopters for its army in a €1.22 billion ($1.41 billion) follow-on order, extending the service's attack helicopter acquisition and sustaining Leonardo's rotorcraft production pipeline.
Discovered |
Briefing
The contract secures 29 AW249s in a €1.22bn ($1.41bn) follow-on award, directly supporting Leonardo's order book and production continuity.
It reinforces a pattern of follow-on rotorcraft buys and sustained defence production, comparable to the USAF's follow-on $173m award for eight MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters.
The deal underscores industrial and program risks in European rotorcraft procurement — balancing capability sustainment with supply-chain and delivery challenges, as seen in Norway's €2.8bn dispute over NH90 performance and recent supplier MoUs such as the GKN-Airbus composites and wiring agreement tied to an H225M order.
Reported By
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Italy moves to procure third batch of 29 AW249 helicopters • Shephard Media
Italian Defence Ministry Seeks Approval for 29 AW249 Fenice Helicopters • news.ssbcrack.com
Italy Goes Ahead with Acquisition of 29 More AW249 Attack Helicopters • The Aviationist
FlightGlobal
• Dominic Perry