The Italian Ministry of Defence has placed an order for new Leonardo AW249 attack helicopters.

Rivista Italiana Difesa reported about this with reference to the budget document.

In accordance with the renewal of the army aviation fleet, the Italian Ministry of Defence has contracted 17 AW-249 helicopters and allocated the appropriate budget for their purchase.

The delivery of the new attack helicopters is scheduled to begin in 2027.

According to the representatives of the Italian Army, the army needs to purchase 48 AW-249 helicopters to replace A129 Mangusta, which were ordered by the Italian army in the 1990s.

According to RID, Leonardo has built four helicopters to date: one prototype and three pre-production aircraft.

The pre-production aircraft will not be transferred to operational units, but will be used jointly by the Army Aviation and Leonardo for various tests and integration of new weapons and systems.

The AW249 helicopter is based on the AW129, which makes them relatively similar in appearance.

Six suspension points on the wings can be equipped with unguided/guided air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles and external fuel tanks.

It is currently known that the helicopter was equipped with a 20 mm three-barreled TM197B cannon from OTO Melara, and the missile armament would consist of Israeli Spike anti-tank missiles.

The AW249 is powered by a pair of GE Aviation CT7-8E6 (T700) turbofan engines with a capacity of 2500 hp (1860 kW) each, and also contains components from the AW149 transport helicopter.

It has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 7500-8000 kg (approximately twice as much as the AW129) and will be able to operate in both hot and cold weather conditions. The helicopter made its maiden flight on August 12, 2022, at the Leonardo’s plant in Venarotta, Italy.