Italy has launched the parliamentary process to approve the acquisition of a new batch of AW249s, which will complete the fleet of 48 attack helicopters.
Italian Parliament’s documents show that Italy has launched the approval process for the acquisition of another batch of the new AW249 Fenice attack helicopter for the Italian Army. This batch will include 29 helicopters which will complete the planned fleet of 48 AW249s.
AW249 Program’s Third Phase
The acquisition is part of the program’s third phase, which includes the completion of the Full Operational Capability (FOC) configuration’s development, the acquisition of 29 FOC-configured helicopters and the upgrade of the 19 helicopters already on contract. Additionally, this phase also includes certification and industrialization of the helicopter, logistic support for ten years and the acquisition of the training system.
The third phase is planned for launch in 2026, and “presumably” completed in 2032, says the document delivered to the Italian Parliament for the approval. This phase will be worth €1,221.5 million, out of a total of 4,647.7 million planned for the program since its launch in 2016.
The document also details the funding, mentioning that the first phase was authorized in 2016 with €487.06 million and the second phase was authorized in 2020 with €2,282.94 million. A further €656.02 million will be funded in future for the completion of the program.
Three pre-series helicopters were contracted in 2017, and are expected to be delivered in the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) configuration. In 2021, four more FOC helicopters were added to the order, followed by 12 helicopters (including two on option) in 2024, hence the current total of 19 helicopters.
Testing in Progress
As testing continues, last year a pre-production AW249 took part in the Italian Army’s operational exercise “Stella Alpina 2024” at Lake Fedaia, near Trento in the North-East of Italy. The helicopter was integrated into the operation’s assets within the multi-domain tactical bubble.
The two-week exercise saw 600 personnel from specialized units of the Italian Army train on countering new threats in a multi-domain scenario, integrating innovative technologies. In fact, among the goals set by the service there was the deployment of systems, equipment and vehicles recently fielded or currently being acquired, such as the AW249.
During summer 2024, the first two helicopters performed medium-altitude and hot-weather trials, both carried out in Calabria in southern Italy. A first round of hot-weather testing was also performed in Spain during the summer of 2023, while in 2025 the helicopter will undergo high-altitude testing.
The AW249 was already part of firing campaigns, with the 20mm Oto Melara TM197B chin gun and 70mm unguided rockets tested in March 2024. During 2025, the helicopter is expected to test the Rafael Spike and Spike ER air-to-surface missiles, and an undisclosed air-to-air missile, which could be the AIM-92 Stinger, or ATAS (Air To Air Stinger), mentioned in the documents.
The documents also mention some of the activities and systems included in the testing, such as Cyber Security, Flight Management System, Role Equipment, Battlefield Management System, Obstacle Warning System, Loitering Munitions, Anti-UAS, Stinger, Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Datalink, GPS with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM).
The AW249
The AW249, designated AH-249A NEES (Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scorta – New Exploration and Escort Helicopter) and nicknamed “Fenice” (Italian for “Phoenix”), is the only new Western combat helicopter designed from scratch in recent years. The helicopter is being developed to replace the A-129 Mangusta which has been in service with the Italian Army since the 1990s and upgraded throughout the years until the current AH-129D variant, planned to be retire the AH-129 from 2025.
The AW249 helicopter, whose first flight took place on August 12, 2022, incorporates advanced technologies that enhance digitization, connectivity, sensor fusion, information superiority, and interoperability. Such features make it a force multiplier in multi-domain operations, seamlessly integrating into air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.
Many mistakenly believe the AW249 is an AH-64 Apache look-alike, but beyond their tandem cockpit setup, the similarities are minimal. The AW249 represents a distinct evolution from its predecessor, the AW129, which traces its roots back to the A129 developed in the late 1970s and first flown in 1983.
In fact, the original A129 was born as an evolution of the concept introduced by the AH-1 Cobra, the first to use a tandem cockpit configuration. Contrary to the Cobra, the Mangusta was based on a twin-engine configuration with a four-blade main rotor. The helicopter was intended as a pure anti-tank platform and armed only with TOW anti-tank missiles and unguided rockets. Only in the 2000s, with the A129CBT upgrade, the helicopter was equipped with a M197 20 mm gun.
While the AW249 builds upon lessons learned from the AW129, it features a new airframe, transmission, engines, and avionics. While stealth was not a requirement, the AW249 incorporates certain features to enhance its LO (Low Observability) characteristics, such as reducing radar cross-section and infrared signature, in order to make its detection harder.
The AW249 features a complete open architecture with significant margins for future growth. The core of its abilities, in addition to high performance, is the ability to be fully integrated and interoperable in the modern multi-domain battlefield. The AW249 features an advanced large area display human-machine-interface and touch screen/gesture recognition devices, together with helmet-mounted devices and a Battle Management System specifically developed by Leonardo.
