Leonardo's Emergency Response Helicopter Fleet to Grow Stronger in Europe with Order for 15 Aircraft by Avincis
Leonardo announces that emergency aerial service provider Avincis has placed 15 orders — 10 for the AW169 light intermediate and 5 for the AW139 intermediate twin-engine aircraft —in the framework of a fleet-modernization-and-reinforcement plan aimed at meeting a long-term rescue and offshore transport growth strategy.
The helicopters are expected to be delivered over the 2028-2031 period, sustaining the existing customer base as well as allowing entry into new markets across Europe.
Three AW169s are planned to be redeployed in Sweden for emergency medical service (EMS) purposes, covering the Uppsala and Västra Götalandsregionen regions under a ten-year contract awarded to Avincis. Its operations will be supported by the capabilities of the helicopter type, which is able to carry out essential life-saving missions with great reliability and in complex conditions with high responsiveness, leveraging advanced technology and navigation/mission equipment, high performance, and cabin versatility.
With global orders nearing 400 units for all missions, the AW169’s presence grows stronger, thanks to its mission flexibility and unique features, including an APU (auxiliary power unit) mode when on ground with rotors stopped, allowing for the continued operation of heating/air conditioning, radios, and electrical support for medical equipment, ensuring time optimization, greater on-ground safety, and sustainability.
The AW139 remains the market leader in its category and is one of the most successful helicopter programs in the rotorcraft industry, with more than 1,500 units sold to over 300 operators in approximately 90 nations for the widest scope of roles. Its unique 60+ minute run-dry-capable main gear box allows for enhanced reliability and safety, particularly during medium- to long-range operations.
Avincis’ fleet currently includes almost 70 Leonardo helicopters, making Avincis one of the largest Leonardo civil rotorcraft technology users in Europe. The majority of its fleet are AW139s deployed for helicopter medical emergency services (HEMS), search-and-rescue, and offshore energy missions. These are complemented by AW169s and AW109s.
At the end of 2025, Avincis also became the first operator in the world to surpass 5,000 flying hours on the Leonardo AW169 with an aircraft based in Sweden.
More than 800 Leonardo helicopters carry out rescue missions globally to date, many of them AW139s and AW169s. As the EMS market continues to grow, increasingly shifting towards larger, more capable aircraft, the AW169 and AW139 are proving to be the platforms of choice for operators seeking enhanced mission performance, greater cabin space and increased operational flexibility.
For more information, visit www.leonardo.com.