Mitsui Bussan Aerospace (MBA), the authorised distributor for the Leonardo AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopter models in Japan, has announced with Leonardo new orders for two AW169 light intermediate twins.
One aircraft will be delivered to a local firefighting governmental organisation, while the other has been secured for upcoming opportunities in the country.
These contracts, when complete, will bring Japan’s AW169 fleet to eight.
The firefighting AW169 is the second AW169 in Japan for firefighting roles and disaster relief missions, confirming this market segment’s appreciation for the most modern helicopter in its weight class.
The aircraft is expected to be delivered in mid-2024 to Japan, where it will undergo local completion. Final customer delivery is expected in 2025.
The AW169’s multi-role configuration includes a range of dedicated equipment such as Leonardo’s obstacle proximity LIDAR system (OPLS), Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), searchlight, weather radar, rescue hoist and Bambi Bucket, among others.
