Italy’s Armaereo defence aviation procurement body has completed military type certification of the AgustaWestland AW149 following a series of operational tests with the country’s air force.

The type certificate was handed over at a ceremony at Farnborough attended by Italian defence minister Roberta Pinotti.

AW149

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AgustaWestland says that with the approval in place, the 8.5t helicopter - a militarised variant of the civil AW189 - is “now ready to enter the international market to meet a number of fleet modernisation requirements.”

The manufacturer is pitching the AW149 to Poland for its tri-service contest for 70 multi-role transport helicopters. A decision on the procurement is expected later this year.

Source: Flight Daily News