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They are supposed to accomplish various tasks for the military, from transporting people and materials to fighting fires.
The new helicopters replace the “Alouette III” light transport and liaison helicopters, which are due to be retired at the end of 2023 for technical reasons. In the sum of 300 million euros, the entire contract should be included, that is, helicopters, technology, logistics, but also training and infrastructure requirements, according to press documents from the Ministry of Defense. The purchase of a single helicopter of this type costs between 8 and 15 million euros, depending on the equipment and additional packages.
With different configurations for different tasks, the new helicopter system can cover all skill areas, including self-protection, the military emphasized. The helicopter is 14.65 meters long and 4.5 meters high (with the rotor spinning). The AW169M can fly up to 283 km / h, the maximum range is 816 kilometers. It can carry ten passengers. The maximum takeoff weight is 4.6 tons.
The new helicopter, which will be used for at least 30 years, will be used to transport people and materials, as well as for firefighting work; for example, it can carry three times more water than Alouette III. According to Heer, smaller airlift jobs can be done more economically with the new system than with the Black Hawk. Due to the spacious interior, it also offers enough space to transport a person in isolation, which is particularly emphasized in times of pandemic.
The AW169M can also be armed and is also capable of being flown at night and in bad weather conditions. In addition, the model is especially suitable for use in the mountains, according to the military.
Since the same helicopter can also be used as a school helicopter, training can be more effective. If necessary, for example, large-scale disasters, school helicopters can also be used for operational tasks at any time.
The 12 machines that make up the squad are stationed at Aigen im Ennstal in Styria. The six training helicopters arrive at the air defense school in Langenlebarn in Lower Austria. In Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Carinthia, temporary helicopter bases will be installed or installed so that the helicopter can operate there temporarily.
After the crumbs with the acquisition of the Eurofighter from Airbus, the ministry is obviously trying to explain the decision in favor of the new type of helicopter in a reasonably transparent way. The Ministry of Defense was looking for a partner “with whom cooperation in all areas is possible, so that efficient operation is possible throughout the term with optimized costs,” it says in press documents. The fact that the most expensive helicopter had been chosen was defended by stating that not only price but also capabilities would have to be used for a specific comparison.
In addition to Italy, Germany (Airbus) and the United States (Bell) were closest competitors. Canada and the US pushed the BELL 429, but the helicopter was not introduced into the armed forces of the two nations, which would have made cooperation in the areas of training, logistics and operations impossible, the army explains. In Germany, on the other hand, a “multi-year capacity gap” was feared because multi-role light helicopters will not be purchased there until the end of 2024, and there was no possibility of cooperation in logistics.
Italy, for its part, is ready to cooperate with the armed forces in all areas of operations. Italy will buy up to 100 AW169s, so the helicopter can be purchased as part of a general cooperation.
The army already has experience with the Leonardo company, it is emphasized: The Federal Army operates the AB 212, which was manufactured by Leonardo Helicopter (formerly Agusta Westland). From this production also come the AB 204 and AB 206, which were operated by the armed forces. Therefore, radar systems for aerial surveillance and military airfields are also products of the Leonardo Group.
The contract negotiations should take about six months, then the production of the helicopters takes about a year and a half. Counter-agreements, a great emotion in the Eurofighters, there is not according to the defense department.
