AW-139: Why complete equipment is an advantage for search and rescue helicopters

Support over a long period of time in clear terms is a top condition in every new contract for the purchase of weapons systems, in accordance with the explicit mandate of the leadership of the Ministry of Defence. An exception cannot be made for the acquisition of 14 AW-139-type search – rescue program from . The 14 helicopters, from Air Force, are now in the phase of the final negotiation, following the unanimous approval of the SAGE last December. The process of processing the programme is under way by the Directorate-General for Defence Equipment and Investment and despite the relative delay due to bureaucratic obstacles, it is considered that it is only a matter of time before the relevant negotiations are completed, because the need to replace aging AB-205 and AB-205 A1 with the worldwide ‘best seller’ AW-139. And the Air Staff may make a very serious effort to increase availability to highly reliable Super Puma, helicopters with a zero accident indicator, but they do not cease to be a solution for a limited period of time yet. So preparing the next day in the critical, not just for the Air Force, the field of research and rescue is one of the priorities of the new leadership. The 14 SAR helicopters (Search and Rescue) support package of which four in Combat (CSAR) configuration ensures availability exceeding 75% and 4,000 flight hours each year for a total of 7 years with expansion capability. Essentially, at least 10 out of 14 helicopters will be available while the number in Flight Hours exceeds the Air Force’s needs in order to complete all missions, which can be assigned to search and rescue helicopters. The costs, deliveries and content of the contract In addition, the program includes training flying with the provision of a Full Flight Simulator as well as technicians and rescuers by delivering all the tools and components required for maintenance operations. The fact that the AW-139 acquisition agreement will be transnational (government to government) as requested by the leadership of the Ministry of Finance for all equipment projects gives a number of additional advantages. In particular, favourable market conditions and prices similar to those purchased by the aviation of the country-builder, logistics by the Italian Air Force, management of the program by the competent authority, for equipment programs, authority of the Italian Ministry of Defence and interoperability in education and joint operations. The delivery of the first helicopters is estimated at approximately two years after the contract was signed at the total cost of the package, including the support for 7 years, to be 450 million euros. Availability is the “key” These are advantages, which have also brought the AW-139 helicopter to the top of the list against the other competitors, as support for the weapons systems purchased by the Armed Forces has been for many decades the “achillion heel” of the relevant equipment programs. The support of helicopters, as already reported by Onalert.gr, is based on a coordinating centre which operates on a 24-hour basis 365 days a year and enables customers to communicate either for the direct dispatch of spare parts or for technical assistance aimed at continued availability, which according to Leonardo in AW-139 reaches 90%. Furthermore, according to the manufacturer their cost of use per flight hour is lower by at least EUR 1,000 compared to all competing helicopters of the same type. As a result, the total profit for an air force using 14 helicopters at a depth of 20 years is estimated at 180 million euros, an amount that can cover other Air Force needs. By Kostas Sarika / onalert.gr