Philippine Navy selects AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters from Finmeccanica for anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare

ROME, 31 March 2016. Philippine Navy officials sought advanced helicopters to assist with maritime and naval operations, including anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions, in challenging environments. They found their solution at Finmeccanica, issuing a contract valued at over 100 million euros to supply two AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters, as well as provide training and multi-year support.

The two helicopters will be equipped with sophisticated, state-of-the-art mission equipment and sensors, primarily dedicated to anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare roles. The helicopters will also be capable of performing other roles, including search and rescue, maritime security, and maritime surveillance.

The aircraft will be built and delivered from the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division’s Yeovil plant, in the United Kingdom, in 2018.

“We will deliver to the Philippine Navy a state-of-the-art product, unmatched in the modern operational scenarios, and customized to meet their specific needs. Also, we will provide the customer with support and training solutions that will enable them to take full advantage of the capabilities of its new helicopters,” says Finmeccanica’s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Mauro Moretti. “This contract confirms the confidence of the Philippines in Finmeccanica’s products as key to its national security and is a further recognition, in the international market, of the company’s leadership in the maritime and naval helicopter segment.”

The AW159 is a latest generation, multi-role, multimission, maritime and utility helicopter. Designed as a successor to the Lynx, one of the most successful maritime helicopters in the world setting a still unsurpassed 400 km/h world speed record, the new model further expands its naval capabilities and performance with total orders for 72 units placed by three nations so far. The AW159 features a state-of-the-art cockpit with four large displays as well as integrated avionics and mission systems allowing the crews enhanced capability and operational effectiveness.

Finmeccanica, an aerospace, defense, and security company, was reorganized into one company with several business divisions: Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defence Electronics; Defence Systems; Security & Information Systems. The “Helicopter Division” has absorbed the activities of AgustaWestland; the “Aircraft Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Aero-structures Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Alenia Aermacchi; the “Airborne & Space Systems Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Land & Naval Defence Electronics Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Security & Information Systems Division” has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES; the “Defence Systems Division” has absorbed the activities of OTO Melara and WASS.