Page 10 - ADT APRIL - MAY 2021 Online Magazine

The AW149 is designed to meet the operational
needs of military commanders with its excellent
levels of safety and survivability and attractive
through-life costs. The twin engine type fea-
tures excellent hot and high performance and
a max cruise speed (ISA, MTOW, SL) of 287 [ ADVERTORIAL ]
km/h 155 kt. Features such as 4-axis autopilot,
advanced open system avionics architecture
and large sliding doors for ease of access for
troops and equipment make the AW149 an
ideal candidate to replace legacy platforms
as they go out of service. The Open Systems
Architecture enables the rapid and low cost
integration of new equipment to meet changing
military requirements.

The spacious, unobstructed cabin and large
sliding doors on both sides enable the rapid
Mean transport of heavily laden troops and the effi-
cient recovery of stretchers on the ground or
in flight, while allowing simultaneous cover fire
from window-mounted machine guns. A large
equipment stowage area for stretchers and
Machine medical kit can be accessed optionally from
the cabin.

LATEST-GENERATION AW149 READY TO
REPLACE AGEING MULTI-MISSION HELICOPTERS

Leonardo offers its latest-generation medium-lift AW149 helicopter
as operators around the world plan to replace their fleets of ageing
multi-mission rotorcraft.

“THE AW149 IS A MODERN, RELIABLE AND
COST-EFFECTIVE AIRCRAFT THAT IS RAPIDLY
CONFIGURABLE TO MEET A WIDE RANGE OF The aircraft is designed to carry a host of
MILITARY MISSIONS,” company officials said. weapons and stores on external carriers, as
well as window mounted guns. The helicop-
Leonardo is pitching the AW149 as the ideal solution for the UK's ter is able to provide unparalleled crew safety.
New Medium Helicopter requirement. Contributing to its high battle survivability the
aircraft features crashworthy fuselage and
The AW149 has been certified by the Italian Directorate of Air seats, heavy duty landing gear, self-sealing fuel
Armaments (ARMAEREO), and has already been selected in the tanks, fully integrated DAS along with additional
export market where it is in-service today. armour protection, a unique 50 minutes ‘run
dry’ capable MGB and advanced avionics and
According to company officials, the helicopter can meet many sensors allowing outstanding situational aware-
operational demands in theatre and in other challenging environ- ness. The AW149 is also designed to operate
ments, such as: troop transport/troop insertion (carrying up to in confined areas under hostile environments.
16 fully-equipped troops or up to 19 passengers), cargo re-sup- It can be rapidly deployed; with its high-speed
ply/external lift, CASEVAC/MEDEVAC, search and rescue (SAR), and long-range enabling self-deployment. It is
Special Forces operations and combat SAR, Command and Control also possible to transport the helicopter in an
(C2), and close air support. A400M and C-17 aircraft.

10 | April/May 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT