AW609 titlrotor programme completes ship trial and looks to next phase
AW609 ship trials took place in April. (Photo: Leonardo)
The first Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor production aircraft made its maiden flight on 13 October 2022 which included an initial inflight evaluation of systems and general handling and it has now completed a ship trial.
Leonardo announced on 25 June that it had successfully completed ship trials of its AW609 titlrotor aircraft and was assessing the results of the landing and looking to use that information to move onto the next phase of the trials.
The trial took place in early April and involved the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour aircraft carrier which was operating 20nm at sea. The aircraft, C4 in the production programme, took off from Maristaer Grottaglie Naval Base and according to the company demonstrated its “its effective approach, stable deck landing, and touchdown capabilities”.
“Integral to the demonstration phase was an initial test campaign developed and executed in a full synthetic environment leveraging the AW609 development/engineering simulator located in Cascina Costa,” the company said.
The trials were supported by the use of a digital twin to provide a preliminary assessment of manoeuvres and activities which were then performed in the trial in an effort to support capability development, time reduction, safety and sustainability.
The company added: “[Under digital twin] deck landing and take-off procedures were performed in more than 15 different conditions (including wind conditions), featuring straight-in and lateral approach, vertical landing, vertical take-off, and lateral exit.”
More from Air Warfare
-
![Sweden orders third GlobalEye AEW&C]()
Sweden orders third GlobalEye AEW&C
The multi-role airborne surveillance system combines the S-band Erieye Extended Range (ER) radar and mission system with Bombardier’s Global 6000 jet aircraft.
-
![Boeing delivers newest upgraded F/A-18 and reaffirms production end]()
Boeing delivers newest upgraded F/A-18 and reaffirms production end
Boeing’s Super Hornet Block III modernisation programme has promised to significantly extend the jet’s service life and introduce advanced capabilities. The programme’s first aircraft were delivered to be upgraded in mid-2023.
-
![Boeing “bets big” on future combat aircraft contracts]()
Boeing “bets big” on future combat aircraft contracts
The new facility will double Boeing’s footprint at its St Louis site beside Lambert air field but what will roll out the doors is not yet known.
-
![Hanwha Aerospace to supply KF-21 fighter jet engines under $401 million deal]()
Hanwha Aerospace to supply KF-21 fighter jet engines under $401 million deal
The KF-21 Boramae, a fighter aircraft manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries, resembles the design of the F-35A and was a result of almost US$8 billion invested by South Korea to develop an indigenous fighter.
-
![Sale of F-16 fighter jets marks Turkey’s next step in mending relations with the US]()
Sale of F-16 fighter jets marks Turkey’s next step in mending relations with the US
As the purchase of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets by Turkey moves ever closer, US–Turkish relations have continued to improve, despite tension between NATO allies.
-
![How the US decision to divert Patriot and NASAMS deliveries to Ukraine will impact NATO countries]()
How the US decision to divert Patriot and NASAMS deliveries to Ukraine will impact NATO countries
Short-term shipments of US-made missiles will be delayed and a new delivery schedule is yet to be defined.
