AW149

The AW149 is Leonardo's military medium multi-role helicopter developed from the company's modern twin-engine helicopter family. Leonardo markets it for troop transport, external lift, medevac, search and rescue, personnel recovery, special forces, close air support, escort, command and control, and ISR tasks. The aircraft was positioned as an alternative for customers replacing older medium-lift fleets.

AW149 design differs from civil AW139-family helicopters by focusing on military survivability and mission equipment. Leonardo describes a platform able to carry troops, external loads, medical kits, and weapons. Armament options cited in Leonardo material include machine guns, gun pods, rockets, and anti-tank missiles, depending on customer fit. The result is a helicopter designed for tactical utility rather than only transport efficiency.

In service and procurement terms, AW149 is important because many armies are replacing Soviet-era or Cold War medium helicopters. The type has been ordered by Poland and marketed for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement, showing its role in European force modernization. It fills the space between civil-derived utility helicopters and heavier battlefield rotorcraft.