Posted by John McHalePHILADELPHIA, 19 Feb. 2011. AgustaWestland is pleased to announce the debut of the AW139M, the customized military version of the multi-role, AW139 helicopter, integrated with U.S. military technology for the U.S. Air Force's Common Vertical Lift Support Program. Manufactured in the company's Philadelphia, Pa. facility the AW139M includes a high-definition forward looking infrared (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 U.S. Air Force's northern-tier missile bases. The AW139M CVLSP 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. With unrivalled range and the highest power-to-weight ratio in its class, the AW139M sets standards of multi-mission performance in hot and high conditions and with a cruise speed of 165 knots. 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.
