Leonardo Helicopters photo.
Rome, 29/04/2025 — The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) took a step forward in the framework of its comprehensive modernization plan with the delivery of the first Leonardo UH-169D LUH (Light Utility Helicopter). The handover was carried out during an official ceremony held at the Italian Army Aviation’s Headquarters in Viterbo on 28 April in the presence of military and industry representatives and dignitaries.
The first UH-169D is part of a total order for 25 units plus support and training, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2027. It follows the delivery of two UH-169B basic training helicopters in 2020, which have been primarily used to allow crew familiarization with the type’s characteristics and facilitate the transition to the advanced multirole variant as its development progressed ahead of handover.
Leonardo UH-169D LUH (Light Utility Helicopter)
The UH-169D LUH was developed for the Italian Army leveraging on the Leonardo AW169M military helicopter baseline and is the result of close collaboration between the Italian Army, the Italian Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate – Directorate of Air Armament and Airworthiness, and the industry, allowing a significant technology and capability leap forward. The program aims to progressively replace aging models, including the A109, AB206, AB205, AB212, and AB412, to meet the evolving operational requirements and benefits from a more efficient supply chain based on a ‘one single platform’ approach. The LUH will be able to carry out a range of operations also, including, among others, utility transport, MEDEVAC, and CASEVAC, enhancing the level of national security as well as the Italian Army’s effectiveness and capabilities internationally.
The LUH also provides the advantage of unique logistical, operational, and technical certification and training commonalities and synergies across the growing AW169 fleets of Government operators in Italy today, including Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza. This strengthens the possibility of performing effective and safe joint operations with other users of this modern type and represents a quantum leap in homeland security, emergency response capability, and overall through-life-cycle cost/effectiveness for decades to come.
“The Italian Army’s LUH definitely represents the start of a new era in terms of capabilities, technical support, mission flexibility and interoperability in the light weight segment,” said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters. “This new program takes advantage of decades of successful partnerships and continued information exchange. It is intended to fully understand the changing operational needs and how to address them through the possibilities offered by new technologies, as modern scenarios also require a true multi-domain approach. In recent years the LUH has also become the benchmark for new export initiatives providing further evidence of the synergies between our company and the Italian Army. We’re committed to supporting the operator to maximise the benefits of these new helicopters.”
Technical description and configuration
The LUH program is based on an advanced multirole configuration provided with dedicated flight/mission equipment, including, among other things, an advanced Leonardo-designed C4 command, control, and communication integrated system to grant full interoperability within the evolving technological, platform, and system inventory of the Italian Army and with the other assets in the NATO environment.
The type also features skid landing gear to allow high versatility in harsh environments and unprepared terrains, up to 14 cabin interior layouts to meet multirole requirements, a 5.1t increased gross weight for greater payload, state-of-the-art glass cockpit, and core avionics, mission planning, advanced Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS – Autopilot) with dedicated modes, an exclusive automatic landing capability for increased safety in degraded environments (such as whiteout/brownout conditions), Obstacle-Proximity LiDAR System (OPLS) delivering greater crew’s situational awareness VS obstacles surrounding the aircraft with laser technology assistance, electro-optics. A complete self-defence suite includes Laser Warning/Radar Warning Receivers, chaff/flare dispensers, MAIR (Multi Aperture InfraRed) fusing data from various infrared cameras to simultaneously detect and track incoming missiles as well as hostile gunfire threats, 7.62mm pintle-mounted guns on both side doors. Furthermore, the helicopters feature selfsealing fuel tanks, fast roping and rappelling kits, rescue hoist and cargo hooks, which also supports firefighting missions.
The LUH allows for further growth in the future including incremental communication and crypto and auxiliary fuel tanks.
Leonardo AW169M Helicopter
The AW169M represents the military variant of the AW169, the future generation helicopter developed by Leonardo and equipped with state-of-the-art onboard technologies designed to the latest FAR/JAR/EASA requirements and those standards of military, homeland security, and government users.
The platform features outstanding power, agility, and manoeuvrability, which provides excellent handling characteristics in a wide range of operating conditions, including hot and high.
The unique transmission design allows power to hydraulic, electrical, and air conditioning systems with the rotors stopped (APU mode), optimizing response time and availability. The cabin is the most spacious in its class and features a constant height cross section for rapid reconfiguration and ease of access. Pilots benefit from a latest-generation, openarchitecture avionics suite, including a fully digital glass cockpit and unprecedented external visibility, providing advanced tactical and situational awareness.
The global AW169 fleet, with over 200 units in service in around 30 countries, has logged over 230,000 flight hours in various operations and conditions. Operators worldwide have ordered over 330 AW169 helicopters, including military and law enforcement/public service operators, to carry out multiple missions, including utility, surveillance, special operations, maritime patrol, land reconnaissance, training, search and rescue, and firefighting.
For more Hlcopters Magazine breaking news, stories, images and videos visit hlcopters.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
