LE BOURGET—Japan has ordered additional Leonardo AW101 heavy helicopters and will upgrade its existing fleet, providing a further boost to the Yeovil, UK-based production line.
Announcing the order on the second day of the Paris Air Show here, Leonardo Helicopters said that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces’ (JMSDF) will receive an undisclosed number of new-build AW101s in addition to an order for a single airframe placed last year. The JMSDF currently has 10 MCH-101 mine countermeasures aircraft and three CH-101 transports.
This existing fleet will also be upgraded to the latest avionics configuration available for the AW101. Leonardo says the helicopters will be in the MCH configuration.
The order is a significant one for the Yeovil, England-based AW101 program,which has struggled to find new orders in recent years.
The Japanese order announcement comes weeks after it emerged that Poland was planning to purchase 22 AW101s for battlefield transport, although Leonardo has not commented on that.
Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, said the contract emphasizes the AW101’s important role in Japan’s defense.
Adam Clarke, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters in the UK, said the Japanese orders would contribute to the UK economy and the defense industry.
“We look forward to many more years working together, creating important technologies to help the customer deliver a range of challenging missions,” Clark said.
Leonardo provides AW101s to Japan through an agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Marubeni Aerospace. KHI acts as the prime contractor, with Leonardo providing technical support for the platform. Marubeni Aerospace acts as Leonardo’s distributor and is responsible for spares, ground support equipment and services.
