HELICOPTERS DIVISION

AW249

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 SHAPING THE FUTURE

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THE NEW COMBAT HELICOPTER
With a long history, expertise and continuous
development in the military combat market Fully articulated main and tail rotors
Leonardo presents AW249
Self-sealing fuel tanks
A new combat helicopter, the AW249 is technologically
advanced with outstanding performance and high
survivability; it has greater speed, range and endurance
Enhanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
with higher payloads. Fully equipped for the demands
of the modern battlefield it offers full digital military
networking for multi-domain integrated operations with the
capacity for Crewed-Uncrewed teaming with Unmanned
Observation and Targeting System (OTS)
Air Vehicles (UAVs). The cutting-edge battle management
system gives an integrated and fused tactical picture from
all mission and information management systems providing
20 mm 3-barrel Cannon
the best situational awareness available. Operating in all
environments, day or night, the helicopter conducts multiple
missions giving crews the operational advantage to identify
enemy targets and, if necessary, engage them with a range
of weapons, before becoming threatened.

Although AW249 is characterized by speed and durability,

allowing it to survive in the most difficult conditions
during assault and air support tasks, it also provides very
competitive maintenance and operating costs due to
the modern design. The design is to the strictest safety
requirements of the European Defence Agency, NATO and
EASA standards. The mission system, developed with the
Pilot Night Vision System (PNVS)
advice of military crews, prioritises safety and mission
requirements reducing pilot workload and increasing
mission capacity. The helicopter, thanks to rigorous design
standards, ensures high safety and survivability.

Integrated Mission System

With capacity and growth potential the new AW249 Combat
Helicopter will deliver operational advantage in evolving
scenarios for the next 30 years.

DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE

BATTLESPACE

AW249 is equipped with a complete set of navigation,

day and night mission and fire control systems, as well
as the ability to manage and control UAVs. The aircraft
incorporates an open systems architecture with growth
potential, state-of-the-art communications and an
advanced battlespace management system. The mission
system will enhance situational awareness, reduce pilot
workload and increase both mission capacity and safety.

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 2 engines (2,500 – 3,000 SHP class)

Dedicated 60 kW Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)

6 firing stations

Electronic Warfare - detection and jamming

AW249 KEY FEATURES

MAJOR SYSTEMS
• 2 Multi-core touchscreen Large • Wide Band LOS Datalink for UAV
Area Displays, for ultimate control
situational awareness • Tactical Data Link 16, crucial for
• 4 Multi-core touchscreen Net-Centric warfare
Enhanced Display Control Units, • Next Generation IFF for secure
centralized control of the aircraft identification and reduced
systems collateral damages
• Precise Targeting and Piloting • Multi-sensor based Flight
Sensors Management System
• LTE Gateway for transferring • Performance Based Navigation
tactical data and images for civil airspace operations
• Software Defined Radios with • External Auxiliary Fuel Tanks for
civil and military wave forms extended range
• High Frequency Radio

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 ERGONOMICS & HMI
AIR VEHICLE AND CORE AVIONICS &
SYSTEMS FEATURES
Next Generation Avionics fully integrated into Digital
Battlefield Management System delivering enhanced
situational awareness and mission effectiveness in both
day and night all weather operations. Ergonomic cockpit &
next generation avionics for enhanced intuitive control of
all aircraft systems are fully integrated across the digital
battlefield. Large Area Display, Touch Screen with Gesture
Recognition provides speed and accuracy of interface.

• 2 Large Area Displays (21,5”)

• 4 Enhanced Display Control Units (8,4”)
• Hands On Controls And Sticks
• Ergonomic Cockpit and Next Generation Avionic
• Intuitive control of all the aircraft systems fully integrated
into the Digital Battlefield

LETHALITY MULTIMISSION CAPABILITY & ISTAR CONOPS

• Guided and Unguided 70 mm Rockets • Multi-mission capability, including Intelligence,
• Air-to-Air Infrared Guided Missiles Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance
• Air-to-Ground Radiofrequency or Fiber Optic Guided (ISTAR), Aerial Escort, Close Air Support, Air Interdiction
Missiles and Fire Support.
• 20 mm 3-barrel Cannon, Integrated Helmet Display
System enslaved
• Automatic Launcher Assisted Pitch Control
• Attack AFCS Mode

CONOPS DESCRIPTION
ISTAR: Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition &
Reconnaissance:
• Acting as the information acquisition element of a C4
system, the AW249 uses the surveillance systems (either
its own or the ones of cooperating units) to scan the
territory, identify ground units (both friend and foe) for
its own use or to disseminate the information through
a secure channel to the Command & Control Centre. As
such it best leverages the advanced Crewed-UnCrewed
teaming opportunities.

The AW249 excels in the following missions:

• AERIAL ESCORT: powerful sensors and precise weapon
system enabling location, deterrence and neutralization of
the enemy’s threats
• CLOSE AIR SUPPORT: safeguarding convoys by locating
the enemy forces before they can combat
• AIR INTERDICTION: using excellent flight performance
it can engage other aircraft; Using real-time tactical
awareness, it can undertake swift action to destroy
key enemy forces, infrastructure and capabilities
thus denying the enemy’s freedom of action.

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SAFE AND SURVIVABLE AW249 CHARACTERISTICS
BALLISTIC DAMAGE TOLERANT DESIGN
• Rotors & Drive Train
Weight
• Armor protection of crew seats Max Take Off Weight 8,300 kg 18,300 lb
• Ballistic-damage tolerant displays Useful Load 2,800 kg 6,170 lb

FUEL SYSTEM PROTECTION Engine Ratings (unistalled)

• Self-Sealing bladder AEO Take-off 2.503 SHP
AEO Max Continuous Power 2.274 SHP
• Isolated tanks
• Extra protection with Smart Transfer Subsystem
Transmission Ratings
AEO Take-Off 2 x 126% 3,148 HP
MIL-STD CRASHWORTHINESS AEO Max Continuous Power 2 x 116% 2,907 HP
• High descent rate landing gear
• Energy absorbing structure Dimensions
• Crashworthy crew seats Overall Length (1) 17.63 m 57 ft 10 in
Overall Height (2) 4.26 m 14 ft
• Crashworthy fuel tanks
Overall Width (3) 4.60 m 15 ft
Rotor Diameter 14.60 m 47 ft 11 in
SAFE RETURN DESIGN CRITERIA FOR Tip to tip, rotor turning
CRITICAL SYSTEMS
(1)

(2)
Tail rotor tip, rotor turning
• Redundancy (3)
Store carrier on
• Separation
• Segregation
Performance (ISA, SL)
• Damage Tolerance Max Cruise Speed (1) 287 km/h 155 kt
Maximum Range (2) 796 km 430 nm
SELF PROTECTION Maximum Endurance (3) 4h5m
• Anti-Jamming T/O & Landing Ceiling - 1000 ft ÷15,000 ft
Flight Ceiling 20,000 ft
• Low Observable (radar and paint finishes)
Rate Of Climb 2,350 ft/min
• Automatic EW detection with chaff and flare (1)
MCP, average mission weight
• Frequency agile radios (2)
No fuel Reserve
(3)
TOP, average mission weight

INTEROPERABILITY
Interoperability across multi-domains is a key capability for
the modern battlefield; AW249 is interoperable with all air
and ground assets. It is net-centric within a digital network
where single cooperating assets share their own tactical
information (voice, data, video), resulting the ability to
prosecute joint and complex operational scenarios.

Being net-centric is thus vital for coordinated action in

demanding environments. Assets involved range from
command centres, to UAVs or other aircraft and satellites.
Importantly it includes ground troops and their vehicles. The
AW249 incorporates advanced “net-centric” capabilities
such as COMSEC and TRANSEC communications either
LOS or BLOS, trough SDR radios, New Generation IFF
Tactical Data Link 16, Wide Band Datalink LOS and
LTE gateway.

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Leonardo Società per azioni
Registered Head Office:
Piazza Monte Grappa, 4
00195 Rome - Italy
T +39 06 324731

Leonardo Helicopters
Head Office: Via Giovanni Agusta, 520
21017 Cascina Costa di Samarate - Italy
T +39 0331 229111

© Leonardo S.p.A.
This document contains information that is
proprietary to Leonardo S.p.A. and is supplied on the
express condition that it may not be reproduced in
whole or in part, or used for manufacture, or used for
any purpose other than for which it is supplied.

AW249-Mk-0422
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