UNIVERSAL VULKAAN AVIATION PTE LIMITED ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR TWO MORE AW169 VIP HELICOPTERS IN INDIA AT EBACE 2025

At EBACE 2025 (Geneva, 20-22 May) Universal Vulkaan Aviation Pte Limited (UVA), Leonardo’s authorized distributor for the Indian civil helicopter market, signed a contract for two AW169 light-intermediate twin-engine helicopters. The aircraft will be configured for VIP/Corporate transport, further consolidating Leonardo’s leadership in the global VIP multiengine helicopter segment and expanding the AW169’s footprint in India.

This latest milestone reached is part of a broader framework agreement announced in 2024, under which UVA committed to acquiring ten helicopters over three years from Leonardo’s AW109, AW169, and AW139 product families.

Building on Leonardo’s well-established position in India’s offshore helicopter segment, this development into VIP/corporate applications is a natural evolution, reflecting the increasing demand for safe, reliable, and high-performance transport solutions among private and business customers. The AW169, with its advanced technology, spacious cabin, and superior performance in hot and high conditions, is ideally suited to meet these requirements.

Leonardo’s success in India is also underpinned by a structured and growing network of MRO and support services across the country, ensuring high fleet availability and operational readiness for operators. Through close collaboration with partners like UVA, Leonardo continues to deliver tailored, end-to-end solutions for a rapidly evolving civil aviation market.

Additionally, in 2024, UVA signed preliminary sales contracts for five AW09 next-generation light single-engine helicopters, further broadening Leonardo’s product offering and reinforcing its commitment to long-term growth in India.

Leonardo is an international industrial group, among the main global companies in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S). With 53,000 employees worldwide, the company approaches global security through the Helicopters, Electronics, Aircraft, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner on the most important international programmes, within these sectors, such as Eurofighter, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP, and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capabilities in Italy, the UK, Poland, and the USA. Leonardo utilises its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and shareholdings, which include Leonardo DRS (72.3%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50% ), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%), and Avio (29.6%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2023 Leonardo recorded new orders for €17.9 billion, with an order book of €39.5 billion and consolidated revenues of €15.3 billion. Included in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.