Group : Civil Helicopters
Status : Active
Also Known As : AB139, UH-139C (Italian Police)
Origin : Italy, United States of America
Contractors : Leonardo Helicopters, Textron
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2004
First Flight : February 3, 2001
Total Production : 907
Unitary Cost : EUR €14.0 million

The AB139 is a medium-sized twin-engine helicopter capable of carrying up to 15 passengers or 2,500 kilograms of useful load at 157 knots. It is intended for both civilian and military customers. It features an spacious cabin combining the benefits of proven technology and the most demanding JAR/FAR 29 standards. This product is the result of close cooperation between Bell of USA and AgustaWestand (former Agusta) of Italy through a joint venture which is responsible for the whole project.

The first production AB139 helicopter took to the sky powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C turboshaft engines at AgustaWestland's plant in Vergiate, Italy, on June 24, 2002. The first prototype flight occurred on February 3, 2001. The type certification using a four-screen with Honeywell's flight instrumentation cockpit providing decreased pilot workload by FAA was completed on December 20, 2004. Two assembly lines - one at Vergiate, Italy, and a second one in Texas - will deliver AB139s to worldwide customers.

As of December 2004, the AB139 was assessed to have lower operating costs and higher productivity than any other helicopter in the 5 to 8 tons class. The wide range of missions, which AB139 is suitable for, include offshore, VIP transport, search and rescue, and law enforcement. To date, AgustaWestland/Bell has logged firm orders for over 80 helicopters from 40 customers worldwide. In addition, AB139 helicopter was selected for US Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater program. Work in the American assembly line is expected to commence in 2005 with the first delivery anticipated in 2006.

The Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture established by Lockheed-Martin and Northrop-Grumman, selected AB139 as the future VRS solution to perform search and rescue, maritime emergency response, anti-drug patrols, illegal migrant interdiction, and fisheries enforcement on June 26, 2002. ICGS is the contractor team in charge of the US Coast Guard's Deepwater program. On December 3, 2004, the Irish Department of Defence selected AB139 for their utility helicopter requirement including troop transport duties, air ambulance, inland search and rescue and VIP transport. A firm order for four helicopters was anticipated by the Irish government. The first AB139 was handed over to Aga Kahn Development Network, which ordered four aircraft, at Agusta plant in Vergiate on February 12, 2004.

Group : Utility & Transport Helicopters
Status : Active
Also Known As : HH-139A (Italian Air Force Search and Rescue version), HH-139B, MH-139A Grey Wolf
Origin : Italy
Contractor : Leonardo Helicopters
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : March 8, 2012
Total Production : 122
Unitary Cost : EUR 31 million

The AW139M is a militarized version of the AW139 commercial helicopter incorporating proven United States (US) military technology for the US Air Force's Common Vertical Lift Support Program (CVLSP). AgustaWestland unveiled the new AW139 multi-mission helicopter variant during the AFA Air Warfare Symposium in the United States of America in February 2011. The aircraft will be manufactured in the company's Philadelphia facility and tailored with US military technology from local suppliers. The AW139M provides 30 percent more cabin volume and 50 percent more payload than the legacy CVLSP platform, while maintaining a similarly-sized external footprint.

The AW139M includes a high-definition FLIR, self protection equipment including infrared detection and countermeasures, avionics and heavy duty landing gear. For military missions, the AW139M features a low thermal and acoustic signature and is available with a full ice protection system, allowing all-weather operation at the US Air Force's northern-tier missile bases. Besides, it is well suited for operations in hot and high conditions. The aircraft also includes dedicated equipment such as armored seats to improve crew protection; ballistically-tolerant, self-sealing fuel tanks; and an external stores system for carrying gun pods, missiles and air-to-ground rockets.