Leonardo Helicopters is evaluating an 'evolution' of its best‑selling AW139 intermediate‑twin — the long‑speculated MkII upgrade — but is not yet ready to officially launch the programme. The announcement frames the work as an early‑stage study rather than a committed development pathway.
Discovered |
Briefing
The AW139 is a market leader — reported at 47 unit deliveries in 2025 — so any decision to pursue an MkII would materially influence aftermarket, sustainment and fleet renewal dynamics (47 units in 2025).
Leonardo’s approach matches a broader rotorcraft trend toward extending legacy platform capability via upgrades and MRO rather than committing to risky new platforms, underscoring the industrial logic behind an evaluation phase (rotorcraft market outlook).
Even without a formal MkII launch, incremental modernization is underway — for example, fleet standardisation and capability fits such as the Pegasus hoist integration on the AW139 — which will shape operator upgrade paths and support requirements (Pegasus hoist selection).
Reported By
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Leonardo Signals Development Work on an AW139 Evolution • Aviation Week
FlightGlobal
• Dominic Perry