The Italian Army took a step forward in the framework of its comprehensive modernization plan with the delivery of the first UH-169D LUH (Light Utility Helicopter). The handover was carried out during an official ceremony held at the Italian Army Aviation’s Headquarters in Viterbo on 28 April in the presence of military and industry representatives and dignitaries.
The first UH-169D is part of a total order for 25 units plus support and training, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2027. It follows the delivery of two UH-169B basic training helicopters in 2020, which have been primarily used to allow crew familiarization with the type’s characteristics and facilitate the transition to the advanced multirole variant as its development progressed ahead of handover.
The UH-169D LUH was developed for the Italian Army leveraging on the Leonardo AW169M military helicopter baseline and is the result of close collaboration between the Italian Army, the Italian Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate - Directorate of Air Armament and Airworthiness, and the industry, allowing a significant technology and capability leap forward. The program aims to progressively replace aging models, including the A109, AB206, AB205, AB212, and AB412, to meet the evolving operational requirements and benefits from a more efficient supply chain based on a ‘one single platform’ approach. The LUH will be able to carry out a range of operations also, including, among others, utility transport, MEDEVAC, and CASEVAC, enhancing the level of national security as well as the Italian Army’s effectiveness and capabilities internationally.
The LUH also provides the advantage of unique logistical, operational, and technical certification and training commonalities and synergies across the growing AW169 fleets of Government operators in Italy today, including Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza. This strengthens the possibility of performing effective and safe joint operations with other users of this modern type and represents a quantum leap in homeland security, emergency response capability, and overall through-life-cycle cost/effectiveness for decades to come.
“The Italian Army’s LUH definitely represents the start of a new era in terms of capabilities, technical support, mission flexibility and interoperability in the light weight segment,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters. “This new program takes advantage of decades of successful partnerships and continued information exchange. It is intended to fully understand the changing operational needs and how to address them through the possibilities offered by new technologies, as modern scenarios also require a true multi-domain approach. In recent years the LUH has also become the benchmark for new export initiatives providing further evidence of the synergies between our company and the Italian Army. We’re committed to supporting the operator to maximise the benefits of these new helicopters.”
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