Andrea Spinelli/GENOA
The Italian navy's order for 16 EHIndustries EH101 maritime helicopters has finally been cleared by the Government's accounting office (Corte dei Conti) following almost two years of deliberations.
The decision will allow Agusta, partner with GKNWestland in EHIndustries, to begin manufacturing the 16 aircraft. The Italian navy has ordered eight anti-submarine-warfare (ASW), four airborne-early-warning (AEW) and four assault transport variants. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in 1999.
The navy originally planned to purchase up to 36 EH101s to replace its Agusta SH-3D Sea Kings. Budgetary pressures, however, have forced this number to be cut, initially to 24 and finally to 16. The navy has maintained an option to buy a further six ASW and two assault helicopters.
The AEW variant of the EH101, considered a priority by the navy, will be fitted with a belly-mounted Fiar radar, now in development. These helicopters will be permanently embarked upon the aircraft carrier Garibaldi.
Agusta also continues to harbour ambitions of persuading the army and air force to procure limited numbers of the EH101.
The company, following GKN Westland's success in the UK with the Royal Air Force EH101 purchase, hopes to sell the combat transport variant to the Italian army to supplement its Boeing CH-47 Chinooks.
Agusta's overtures are understood to have been met with little enthusiasm from the army, which has neither the funding nor the requirement for the EH101. Army rotary-wing priorities remain focused on the Agusta A129 Mangusta, and the NHIndustries NH90 tactical-transport helicopter. Any additional funding is likely to be earmarked for a replacement for the Agusta Bell AB-206 light-utility helicopter.
Agusta would also like to push a search-and-rescue (SAR) variant of the EH101 to replace the Italian air force's Sikorsky HH-3Fs. In the near to medium term, this appears unlikely as the air force is upgrading some of its HH-3Fs to a combat-SAR configuration.
Source: Flight International
