Page 14 - DSA 2024 - DAY 1 | DAILY NEWS

Leonardo Reinforces Rotorcraft Presence

Leonardo, which is showcasing a wide range and weapons with unparalleled safety and Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). The
of products at the ongoing show, has a performance characteristics. It is rapidly AW149 blends performance, lower life-cycle
longstanding presence in Malaysia of over configurable for a wide range of demanding costs and day/night all-weather capability
40 years. The company has been especial- missions in the most severe operational in a single platform. With a smaller external
ly successful in the rotorcraft market in environments. The AW149 was designed footprint than other helicopters in its class,
Malaysia, with over 60 helicopters today in as a multi-role military helicopter and has but with similar cabin volume and large
service with the Malaysian Armed Forces, been certified by Italian Directorate of Air stowage area, the more modern AW149 has
Fire & Rescue Department (Bomba), Royal Armaments. The AW149 was designed from better performance than its competitors.
Malaysia Police, Maritim Malaysia, com- the outset with the modern battlefield in
mercial and private owners. Both the Royal mind, in particular survivability on the mod- Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department
Malaysian Navy and Air Force have selected ern battlefield. It includes a comprehensive (Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia)
the AW139, which delivers best-in-class Defensive Aids System, safe separation operates the AW189 helicopter, while the
performance with a maximum cruise speed of systems, ballistic tolerance and pro- AW109 provides Helicopter Emergency
of 165 knots (306 kph), a range in excess tection, key system redundancy, infra-red Medical Services (HEMS) serices in
of 500 nm (927 km), endurance of 5 hours suppression, and military crashworthiness. Malaysia. The AW189 has proven extremely
and superior hover performance. Leonardo successful in Asia for a range of roles includ-
is also promoting the AW149 in the region. ing public services and offshore transport.
Designed as a multi-role military helicop- The AW149 is optimised for a multitude
ter, it is already in-service internationally, of battlefield missions and roles including
including in Southeast Asia, and ready to movement of personnel and materiel, such The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will
replace ageing battlefield helicopter fleets. as Troop Transport/Insertion/Extraction (up also receive two new ATR 72MPA/ASW
to 16 heavily equipped troops, 19 light) and platforms from Leonardo. Leonardo has
Cargo Internal/Underslung External Loads; also supplied naval guns such as the OTO
The AW149 is a latest-generation medium medical and casualty evacuation; Search 76/62 SR "super rapid", light torpedoes and
multi-role military helicopter that delivers and Rescue (SAR) and Personnel Recovery; heavy "Black Shark” torpedoes for the Royal
the highly effective and survivable capability special forces operations and Combat SAR; Malaysian Navy and supplied its RAT31DL
required by today’s armed forces, com- close air support/armed escort; Command and RAT31 SL/E radars for the nation’s air
bining advanced technologies, equipment and Control (C2); and Intelligence, defence.

14 MAY-06-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS