The Carabinieri is taking further steps forward in its helicopter fleet modernization project, bringing the number of Leonardo AW169M helicopters delivered to six. Visiting yesterday at the production plant in Vergiate (Varese), the general commander of the Army, general of the army corps Teo Luzi, welcomed by Leonardo’s co-director general Lorenzo Mariani together with Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of the Helicopter Divisionhad the opportunity to take stock of the progress of the program with the Company and was able to closely appreciate the three new helicopter models purchased in recent years – AW139, AW169M and AW119Kx – which allow the best level of management of the mission according to different operational needs.
The modernization program of the helicopter fleet, which also includes complete technical assistance services and training for maintenance technicians and crews, allows us to increase the capabilities of the Air Service of the Army, guaranteeing greater safety for citizens.
Thanks to the technology available on board the new aircraft, it is possible to ensure more incisive control of the territory, encouraging research, exploration, reconnaissance and land patrolling, identifying and identifying sensitive targets, monitoring behaviour, acquiring sources of evidence and guiding the intervention of ground units. Added to these tasks are support for environmental protection and, at the request of the Civil Protection Department, forest firefighting, as well as rescue missions.
The AW169Ms of the Carabinieri are equipped, among others, with a special configuration including rescue winch, cable cutter, fast roping for rapid descent of personnel, barycentric hook, advanced ground proximity systems, cockpit compatible with the use of night vision goggles, searchlight. Among the Leonardo equipment and mission systems integrated on the helicopter are, among others, the LEOSS II electro-optical system, the mission console, the IFF transponder, the tactical radio and a special anti-collision system.