04.03.2015 by Maki Catama

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) has Announced that its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters will be commissioned during its 117th anniversary on May 27.

"We're hoping to commission them by our anniversary this May," Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to the PNA on Sunday.

The two armed AW-109 airframes arrived in the country last December as part of the five-helicopter deal, worth PhP1.33 billion, signed by the Philippines with AgustaWestland in early 2013.

Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned on Dec. 22, 2013.

The armed versions of the AW-109s will be armed will have machine guns, 20mm cannons and possibly with air-to-ground rockets.

The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class eight-seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.

The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles.

The aircraft's safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.

The AW-109 has established itself as the world's best-selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions.

Its superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class.

For shipboard operations, the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures.

The ability to operate-from small ships in high sea state enables the AW- 109 to perform its mission when many others helicopters would be confined to the ship's hangar.

Over 550 AW-109 "Power" and the AW-109 light utility helicopters have been ordered for commercial, parapublic and military applications by customers in almost 50 countries.

The Philippines receives five AgustaWestland AW109 Power helicopters for its navy. The two armed aircraft are currently undergoing assembly before commencing flight tests.  The AgustaWestland AW109 naval helicopters worth Php 2.2 billion funded jointly by the AFP Modernization Program and Department of Energy.

24 June 2013 by defenceWeb

The Mauritanian Air Force has ordered two AW109 helicopters and the Senegalese Air Force a single AW139 from AgustaWestland, the company has announced.

The contract with Mauritania was signed on June 17 at the Paris Air Show during a ceremony attended by Colonel Hereitani of the Mauritanian Air Force and Geoff Hoon, AgustaWestland’s Managing Director of International Business.

AgustaWestland said the twin-engined AW109 Power helicopters would be used for border patrol and reconnaissance missions, and would be delivered in mid-2014 in a multi-role homeland security configuration.

The contract also includes a comprehensive training and support package that will be delivered both in Italy and on-site to ensure a quick and effective entry into operational service for the aircraft, AgustaWestland added.

Mauritania’s Air Force only flies two other helicopters – Chinese Harbin Z-9As delivered in 2003, according to the Jane’s Information Group.

The Mauritanian Air Force has been growing in recent times, especially in response to Islamic terrorist organisations operating in the region. Four Embraer EMB-312F Tucanos were received from France in 2010 and 2011, while the nation began taking delivery of new Super Tucanos in October 2012.

Also at the Paris Air Show, AgustaWestland announced that it had signed a contract for a single AW139 medium helicopter, which will be operated by the Senegal Air Force. It will most likely be used for VIP transport.

The contract marks the entrance of AgustaWestland helicopters in the regional market, the company said, and includes in-country support services and training for both aircrew and maintainers.

Senegal is also expanding its air force, with the country recently ordering three A-29 Super Tucanos from Embraer. The contract was signed on April 10 this year.

The AW109 Power variant, which can be flown by a single pilot, features a digital glass cockpit with six liquid crystal instrument displays providing the aircrew with flight, systems and mission data. It can cruise at a maximum speed of 285 km/h. Nearly 480 AW109s are in service in around 50 countries, with almost one third of these being operated by government customers.

The AW109’s larger sibling, the AW139, can cruise at 306 km/h over nearly a thousand kilometres. Around 720 have been sold in almost 60 countries to over 200 customers for many roles including VIP/corporate transport, passenger transport, law enforcement, fire fighting, offshore transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, disaster relief and maritime patrol.