AgustaWestland competes for U.S. Air Force programs

AgustaWestland North America, an AgustaWestland company, is pleased that the U.S. Air Force has announced it is moving forward with a competition for the Common Vertical Lift Support Platform and HH-60 recapitalization programs.

"AgustaWestland North America is prepared to participate and to vigorously compete for both the U.S. Air Force's CVLSP and HH-60 recapitalization programs – two separate but important missions," said AgustaWestland North America's Chief Executive Officer, R. Scott Rettig. "We plan to offer the advanced military version of the best selling AW139 – the AW139M – which has been fully missionized with proven U.S. military technology for CVLSP requirements, and the battle-tested HH-71 for the Combat Search and Rescue mission."

Manufactured in the company's Philadelphia, Pa. facility, the AW139M has been configured with the latest U.S. military technology from suppliers across the United States, ensuring that it is a cost effective, off the shelf option for the U.S. Air Force. The AW139M includes a high-definition FLIR, self protection equipment including infrared detection and countermeasures, avionics, heavy duty landing gear, ballistic protection and other dedicated equipment, allowing all-weather operation at the U.S. Air Force's northern-tier missile bases.

The HH-71, based on the operationally-proven AW101, offers a robust platform for critical combat search and rescue missions. With extensive experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, the HH-71's size, low acoustic signature, long range all-weather capability and effectiveness in austere environments such as sand and snow enables the warfighter to complete challenging combat search and rescue missions with speed, range, security and safety. The HH-71 includes three engines providing aircrews the assurance that the mission can be safely completed, even under hostile or irregular warfare conditions.