The acquisition contract, worth € 346 M, was finalized within the framework of the Italy-Austria G2G Agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and defining a strategic partnership in the helicopter sector.
The Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Direction (through its Direction for Aeronautic Armaments and Airworthiness) and Leonardo signed the Acquisition Contract for the provision of AW169M LUH- Light Utility Helicopters to the Austrian Ministry of Defence.

The contract, worth € 346M, was signed within the framework of the Italy-Austria Government-to-Government (G2G) Agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries and defining a strategic partnership in the helicopter sector. Austria looks at Italy and its AW169M LUH light helicopter to replace its Alouette III fleet, in service since the 1960s.
Today’s contract was finalized thanks to the Preliminary Document to the G2G Agreement signed by Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini and his Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner on December 2, 2021.
Lorenzo Guerini said: “We are pleased with this result that today implements the passage to a new cooperation season in the sector of procurement, thus confirming the appreciation enjoyed by Italian technology and products at the international level. The G2G is a very effective industrial policy tool, a smart way to support export that we trust highly”.
The program provides for the delivery of 18 helicopters manufactured at Leonardo’s Vergiate (Varese) industrial plant.
The first AW169M LUH will be delivered by the end of this year, with delivery to be completed by 2026. Moreover, the contract includes additional options for 18 more helicopters. The Austrian crews will benefit from initial training conducted with the support of the Italian Army, thanks to the expertise gained as AW169M LUH operator, and the supply of dedicated training and simulation systems.
Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO, declared: ”We are pleased to have taken this step which brings to completion the Italy-Austria G2G initiative. This allows us to meet the severe criteria defined in the cooperation agreement between our two governments by providing the most technologically advanced and effective solution. We are ready to play an active part in this program”.