Leonardo’s AW149 and AW169M beat Airbus, Bell and Lockheed in North Macedonia
Leonardo's AW149 has also been in competition for the UK New Medium Helicopter programme. (Photo: Leonardo)
Macedonia has selected the Leonardo AW149 medium helicopter over Airbus, Bell and Lockheed Martin aircraft.
The North Macedonian MoD has selected Leonardo helicopters over the competing Airbus, Bell and Lockheed Martin platforms to replace the country’s Soviet-era aircraft.
During a national TV appearance on 22 January, Macedonia defence minister Slavjanka Petrovska announced the €330 million (US$359 million) contract.
Other platforms competing for the Balkan country’s helicopter programme were the Airbus H145M and H222M, the Bell 412M and the Lockheed Martin S-70 Black Hawk. The selection was made on the grounds of completeness, pricing and the logistics and maintenance systems of the aircraft, Petrovska explained.
Another Leonardo platform, the AW139, has been expected to beat H175
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