Helicopters

Finmeccanica is a total rotorcraft capability provider in the vertical lift market through its helicopter company AgustaWestland, delivering unrivalled mission capability to military and commercial operators around the world. The company is a global leader in rotorcraft systems, design, development, production and integration.

AgustaWestland is also focused on reducing costs of ownership, while improving operational capabilities. To achieve this, the company is working with its commercial and military customers to provide a range of innovative support and training solutions.

Integrated Platform Systems

In the UK, AgustaWestland develops integrated helicopter systems that encompass all the principal weight categories. These can be adapted to a wide range of government and military missions. Globally our products range from the SW-4 1.8-ton single  engine, to the AW101 16-ton three-engine helicopter. Other platforms include the AW109 Power; AW109 LUH and GrandNew light-twin; the T129 combat helicopter; the multi-role AW159 Lynx Wildcat; the bestselling AW139 medium twin; the W-3 medium twin; the BA609 Tiltrotor; the Apache AH Mk.1 combat helicopter; and
the NH90 11-ton. The recently launched AW149 and AW169 helicopters further expand the product range. Our platforms share a common commitment to quality, innovation and effectiveness.

As a result of its unique capabilities in the UK, AgustaWestland is able to perform major upgrades and modifications to all the Ministry of Defence helicopter fleets. The company is committed to delivering the rotorcraft capability required by the UK Armed Forces and was the first company to sign a Strategic Partnering Arrangement with the UK Ministry of Defence. This was accompanied by a Business Innovation Transformation Agreement by which the company was incentivised to make a long-term investment in efficiency in response to the MoD’s future requirements. Among these was the Integrated Operational Support of the UK’s Merlin, Sea King and Apache Helicopter fleets.

Leading-edge Technologies

In the UK, with expertise in design, development, production and integration, Finmeccanica supplies avionic suites; threat warning sensors; electronic countermeasures; latest generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars; and electro-optic sensors for complete rotary wing operation, awareness and protection. The new Wildcat helicopter is equipped with next-generation sensors and is the first helicopter
in the UK to fly with the AESA radar. The smallest AESA surveillance radar, PicoSAR provides high resolution SAR imagery and GMTI for small helicopters and UAS, and is now making significant impact in the international marketplace.

Communications systems play a vital role in rotary wing operations, increasingly so in today’s integrated land/air environment. SELEX ELSAG provides a comprehensive communications capability, together with a range of navigation products, including advanced landing systems
and GPS-integrated sensors. Its obstacle warning systems are ideal for enhancing the safety of low-flying applications and ensuring safety in hazardous situations. The company also supplies operationally proven IFF equipment to identify friendly or hostile forces in the battlespace.

A Complete Range of Training Solutions

Through AgustaWestland, Finmeccanica is also an established provider of professional training services to a wide range of military, commercial and industrial customers around the world. Building on core competencies in high quality rotary wing and military systems training, the company is committed to developing and expanding its training portfolio to meet both the current and future training needs of all of its customers. Military customers are assured of receiving highly effective training solutions, designed to meet their requirements for high levels of individual, team and collective performance. Commercial customers, including the emergency services, are able to benefit from investments made by AgustaWestland in training and integrated learning environments, developed to enable the full exploitation of the company’s high performance aircraft.

In the UK, AgustaWestland has a Training Academy in Yeovil and an Operational Flying Training Centre at Newquay Cornwall Airport. Additionally, it provides training at Ministry of Defence sites for the Apache and Merlin and, in 2011, was contracted to design, develop and build an integrated training centre for the AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter.