Leonardo Helicopters is currently constructing three AW159 Wildcat helicopters for Algeria, the sole remaining customer for this sophisticated naval helicopter.
The AW159 Wildcat, an enhanced iteration of the Westland Super Lynx, was originally developed by AgustaWestland, a British-Italian manufacturer, and is now marketed by the Italian aerospace firm Leonardo. This military helicopter is engineered for a diverse array of missions, including battlefield utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, utility, command and control, and troop transport.
The delivery of these three helicopters to Algeria is anticipated to conclude around 2027. However, Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, has indicated that the company must “decide a bit sooner” on the Wildcat’s future, stating, “We are not going to wait. It is one of the strategic items we have got on the table.”
The Algerian contract prompted Leonardo to resume AW159 production after a hiatus following earlier export agreements. Yet, Cutillo highlights a significant challenge: reactivating the production line and its supply chain for a limited number of units, as with this small order, escalates costs considerably, “making it really out of the market.”
This cost inefficiency poses a hurdle as Leonardo grapples with a dwindling order backlog and a tough sales landscape. Cutillo notes that the AW159 is “suffering” because securing additional orders is “not easy,” prompting the company to reassess the program’s long-term viability.
Further complicating matters is Leonardo’s responsibility to sustain the United Kingdom’s Wildcat fleet, which comprises 62 helicopters—34 operated by the British Army and 28 by the Royal Navy. “We have important obligations towards that,” Cutillo explains. “We are trying to understand with the customer how we sustainably support that.” This obligation to the UK, a key domestic client, adds another layer of complexity to Leonardo’s strategic planning for the AW159.
In a parallel development, Leonardo is expanding its footprint in Algeria by establishing an assembly line for the AW139 helicopter. This initiative follows a contract with the Algerian military for seven AW139 twin-engine medium helicopters, to be manufactured at a new facility at Ain Arnat Airport in Setif province.
This joint venture with the Algerian National Defense Ministry underscores a growing partnership between Leonardo and the North African nation, highlighting the company’s efforts to bolster its presence in the region even as it navigates the uncertainties surrounding the AW159 Wildcat program.
