Austria Takes Delivery of First AW169M LUH Helicopter

The Austrian Ministry of Defense received the first AW169M LUH helicopter from an initial order of 18 units.

The handover of the aircraft, built at Leonardo’s Vergiate facility in Italy, achieved in line with the contractual obligations, was performed during an official ceremony held at the Tulln-Langenlebarn Brumowski Air Base, in the presence of Leonardo’s senior management.

Austria and Italy also announced today a G2G Agreement amendment through which Austria is exercising options for an additional 18 helicopters. All 36 helicopters – 12 AW169B trainers and 24 armed tactical AW169MAs – will be delivered by 2028.  This takes the total acquisition value to about $925 million.

AW169M LUH will replace the aging Alouette III aircraft fleet, which have been in service since the 1960s.