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Five countries operating Leonardo AW109 military helicopters

Five countries operating Leonardo AW109 military helicopters
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The Leonardo AW109 TrekkerM, also known as AgustaWestland A109, is a versatile military helicopter used for various missions including troop transport, cargo resupply, and medical evacuation. It is suitable for both battlefield and maritime operations and can be used in training missions as well. Developed in the late 1960s by Italian manufacturer Agusta, it was initially designed as a single-engine helicopter but later reoriented to a twin-engine rotorcraft.

In September 2023, Argentina signed an agreement to purchase eight AW109S helicopters. The Argentinian Navy followed up with a contract worth 63 million euros in November 2024 for four Leonardo AW109SP helicopters and additional equipment.

The Philippine Air Force has operated eight AW-109AH units since their delivery in 2015. Meanwhile, Belgium uses the AW109 for international peacekeeping missions. The Belgian government acquired 46 Agusta A109BA Hirundo helicopters in 1988 to replace older models. Currently, 12 of these are operational within Wing Heli.

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Malaysia has established itself as a hub for aviation activities involving Leonardo helicopters since the early 1980s. Malaysia signed an agreement for twelve EC725 helicopters at the Defense Services Asia exhibition in 2010 and leased four AgustaWestland AW139s from Weststar Aviation in 2021.

Nigeria plans to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities with new military aircraft acquisitions including twelve Leonardo AW-109 multipurpose helicopters. In addition to this procurement plan, Nigeria received several aircraft deliveries in June 2024 aimed at fleet renewal.

South Africa's air force operates at least twenty-five combat-ready AW109 helicopters after selecting them over other models in a competition held in 1999. In recent years, South Africa expanded its use of different variants of the helicopter through agreements with Absolute Aviation Group.

Sweden's challenging terrain necessitates powerful rotors such as those on the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing’s AgustaWestland AW109MUH model known locally as Hkp15B and Hkp15A which support naval operations primarily through surface surveillance roles.

"The M-346 and Trekker acquisitions are key steps towards fleet renewal," stated Nigeria's Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.

Organizations Included in this History
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