First Leonardo HH-139B delivered to Italian Air Force
On 30 November 2020, the first Leonardo HH-139B helicopter for the Aeronautica Militare (AMI, Italian Air Force) was delivered at Cervia (RA) air base.
Already on 27 November, MM81985/15-55 was handed over at the Leonardo plant in Vergiate (VA), following the successful conclusion of the testing and acceptance procedures conducted by the personnel of the Direzione Armamenti Aeronautici e per l’Aeronavigabilità (Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness Department).
The delivery of seventeen HH-139B helicopters will be concluded in 2021 and they will be operated by the SAR (Search and Rescue) units of the 15° Stormo (Group) located at Cervia (RA), Decimomannu (CA), Trapani (TP), Gioia del Colle (BA) and Practice di Mare (RM).
The new Leonardo (former AgustaWestland) HH-139B, in fact a customized variant of the AW139 twin engine helicopter. It has some technical features above the already in use HH-139A version, that allow to improve the operational capacity and therefore increase the flexibility of use to respond to emergencies and security needs. In particular, the new version has been equipped with a double winch that increases the reliability of the system and safety during recovery operations and a "mission console" that allows better management of the on-board equipment for the purpose of searching for any missing persons.
In addition, the maximum take-off weight has been increased, from 6,800kg to 7,000kg, which allows a greater load capacity and finally it has been updated with the latest generation avionics and on-board sensors.
The 15° Stormo (Group) has the task of recovering (air)crews in difficulty in peacetime SAR (Search And Rescue) and in times of crisis and in operations outside national borders CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue) and to support Special Operations as well.
The unit also plays an important role in the event of serious disasters to activities of public utility such as the search for missing persons at sea or in the mountains, the emergency medical transport of the patients in danger of life and the rescue of seriously injured persons, transport in bio-containment and recently, also the support for forest fire fighting activities. In fact, since its establishment, the crews of the 15° Stormo (Group) have saved a formidable figure of 7,200 people in danger of life.
Photos: Fabrizio Capenti and Aeronautica Militare