Leonardo Helicopters has secured an order from Italy’s Carabinieri for 20 AW119Kx light-singles.
They will be built at the manufacturer’s Vergiate plant in northern Italy, rather than on the usual AW119Kx production line in Philadelphia. Deliveries of the rotorcraft are expected over the 2023-2026 period.
No details of the contract value have been disclosed. The agreement also includes a logistics support and training package.
Part of an ongoing fleet modernisation effort, the Carabinieri will use the new helicopters for reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, disaster relief and support of ground units.
To be operated across the service’s 18 bases, the AW119Kx’s will feature electro-optical cameras, a cargo hook, search light and a Bambi Bucket for firefighting tasks. Provisions for a floatation system, life raft and a snow kit are also included.
Garmin G1000H avoinics have been selected, limiting the helicopters to visual flight rules operations.
Cirium fleets data shows the Carabinieri as operating a number of ageing rotorcraft types including single-engined Bell 206s and MD Helicopters MD500s, plus twin-engined A-model AW109s.
Previously the service has ordered AW139 intermediate- and AW169M medium-twins to modernise its fleet.
