Pakistan orders AW139s
The government of Pakistan has ordered an undisclosed number of AgustaWestland AW139 medium-sized twin-engine helicopters from Leonardo-Finmeccanica, the company announced on 24 May.
The order has been placed as part of a wider renewal programme for Pakistan's helicopter fleet. The AW139s are expected to be delivered in 2017, with the contract also including training and logistics support services.
Pakistan will use the AW139s for search and rescue missions across the country. The aircraft will join the 11 AW139s already in operation in Pakistan for a number of mission sets, including five used for government transport and relief duties.
The AW139 is an intermediate helicopter with a Honeywell Primus Epic VFR/IFR integrated avionics system and four-axis digital AFCS. It is powered by two Pratt &Whitney Canada PT6C-67C engines and can carry 15 passengers with one or two pilots. Optional mission equipment include an EO/IR payload, rescue hoist and cargo hook, searchlight, loudspeakers, video down-link, mission console, radar and multi-band radios.
Its service ceiling of 6,096m will make it ideal for operations in high-altitude areas near the disputed border with India. Last year foreign mountaineers had to be rescued by helicopter in places like K2, the world's second-highest peak.
Selecting a platform type already in government service makes good sense for Pakistan logistically too.
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