As part of the press presentation at FIDAE 2024, representatives from Leonardo provided details on key points for the region. In the case of Argentina, as previously mentioned, the interest revolves around the sale of eight AW109Ms to the Argentine Navy and the Argentine Army’s Medium Utility Helicopters project. For the latter, the candidate is the AW139.
According to information obtained by Zona Militar, Leonardo continues to propose the AW139 as the candidate for the future utility helicopter of the Argentine Army. It’s worth noting that this project was conceived to recover capabilities lost with the retirement of the SA-330 Puma, as well as to replace the SA-332 Super Puma. In January 2022, we reported that BAPIN 107716 detailed “the acquisition of 20 medium helicopters to increase the air transport capacity of Assault Helicopter Battalion 601”, a quantity that has varied over time.
Based on information gathered by Zona Militar at FIDAE, Leonardo’s offer consists of fifteen AW139s in response to the Argentine Army’s requirement, and also as an option alongside what Airbus Helicopters has proposed.
It’s worth highlighting that on June 22, 2023, Argentina signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus for the purchase of 12 H215M helicopters destined for the Argentine Army. The document was signed during the Paris Air Show 2023, held at Paris-Le Bourget in June last year.
At that time, the then Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac, representing the Army and the Ministry of Defense, “carried the letter of intent signed by Minister Taiana… during a meeting with French Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the agreement was finalized by which Argentina expresses its interest in moving forward with the purchase of twelve of these medium helicopters from the French company Airbus Helicopters,” the Argentine defense ministry reported at the time.
Like other projects where a letter of intent was signed, the acquisition of medium utility helicopters for the Argentine Army will still have to wait for a local decision, as new proposals could emerge in the coming weeks or months.
Leonardo AW139
From the wide range of products, Leonardo’s options considered for the Argentine Army project were the AW149 and AW139M models. Of these mentioned helicopters, the AW139M (militarized version of the AW139) is of the greatest interest, as it is operational in over a dozen nations and in various configurations. Its most recent user is the USAF, which has just incorporated it in its MH-149A Grey Wolf version as a replacement for the Bell UH-1Ns currently supporting security at intercontinental missile bases.
The AW139M is classified in the 7-ton category, offering a transport capacity of 2 + 8 fully equipped soldiers. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C engines, its maximum speed exceeds 300 km/h and it has a range of 1061 km (according to the manufacturer).
Illustrative cover image. Credits: Leonardo.
You may also like: ZM at FIDAE: ENAER to start production of the new Pillán II trainer for the Chilean Air Force in 2025
