The US defense department has awarded AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., a Leonardo company, a $38.4 million for the delivery of seven new AW119Kx aircraft to Israel under a Foreign Military Sales contract.
The contract, issued by the US Army Contracting Command, includes pilot and maintainer training, initial spares package, tools and ground support equipment, engine spares and the development of training aid devices.
Leonardo was awarded the deal after the Israeli Air Force announced in February this year that it would be acquiring the advanced training helicopters as replacement for the country’s current “Saifan” (Bell 206) trainer helicopters that were purchased in 1970.
The new helicopters will be stationed at the Flight Academy at Hatzerim air force base.
According to the February 2019 agreement, Israel would purchase seven AW119Kx helicopters while the Italian Defense Ministry buy an equivalent value of Israeli military technology.
A variant of the AW119, TH-119, is also one of the contenders for the US Navy future training helicopter.
