First AW169B for Austrian Air Force
In October 2022, the first Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces) Leonardo AW169B with Italian test registration CSX82072 (construction number 72014) was photographed by Tiziano Capenti, although still in a primer livery, during a test flight from the Leonardo factory airfield Venegono near Varese in northern Italy.
On 20 December 2021, the Austrian government signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with Italy for the purchase of eighteen Leonardo AW169M Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to replace the Bundesheer obsolete 21 strong fleet of Alouette 3 helicopters. Scramble Magazine reported earlier on this agreement in December 2021 and September 2020.
The purchase will be divided in six AW169Bs training variant and 12 AW169MAs advanced multirole variant with integrated mission equipment and weapon systems. The agreement include Role Equipment, Aircraft Ground Equipment, spare parts, technical publications, technical support, basic and advanced training courses (the latter to be carried out in cooperation with the Italian Army), simulators and an option for twelve more AW169MA helicopters and six AW169B variants.
The Bundesheer operates the SA316B/SE3160 Alouette 3 from 1967 onwards. The Alouettes are assigned to the Kommando Luftunterstützung (air support command). That command operates the Verbindungshubschrauberstaffel (Communication squadron) at Aigen im Ennstal air base. At Tulln-Langenlebarn air base, the Flieger- und Fliegerabwehrtruppenschule 'FlFlATS' with Lehrabteilung Hubschrauber is based. This unit is responsible for Alouette 3 pilot training.
Photo by Tiziano Capenti / www.aplace2land.com