The AgustaWestland AW149 is a medium-lift multi-role military helicopter developed by AgustaWestland, now Leonardo, launched in 2006 and had its first flight in 2009. By 2014 it had received military flight certification, and it went on to enter production going into military service with Egypt and Thailand. It is also planned for Poland with a new PZL-Swidnik production line there that opened in 2024, and North Macedonia has a pending order. The aircraft the only contender for the British NMH procurement program in the 2020s. The AW149 began life as an all-new, military design. [1] It was unveiled at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show, with a larger fuselage and more powerful engines compared to the AW139, resulting in a greater cargo volume and payload carrying ability. On 13 November 2009, the first prototype conducted its first flight from AgustaWestland's Vergiate manufacturing facility in northern Italy. On 26 February 2011, the second prototype, the first with production model engines, made its first flight from Vergiate. On 20 June 2011 AgustaWestland announced the AW189, a civilian development of the AW149, for service in 2013. For operational history and operators, click here.
