Thailand has ordered two AgustaWestland AW139 medium-twin utility helicopters, which will equip its army aviation unit from 2014.

Announced on 8 October, the deal with the Royal Thai Army also includes its future provision of training services and a comprehensive maintenance package, the European airframer says.

AW139 Thai army - AgustaWestland 

AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland lists previous AW139 buyers as including the air forces of Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Online Fleets database records Bangkok as having an active army inventory of just over 200 helicopters. Types in use include the Bell UH-1, 206 and 212/412, Boeing CH-47, Mil Mi-17 and Sikorsky S-70. The service will also receive two new Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks under a contract placed in July 2012.

Thailand also signed a roughly $128 million contract last month to equip its air force with four combat search and rescue-configured Eurocopter EC725s.

Source: FlightGlobal.com