Indonesian Ministry of Defence Attracts Leonardo AW149 Helicopters for the Navy

Aircraft manufacturer Leonardo, together with PT ESystem Solutions and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the AugustaWestland (AW)149 helicopter at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the United Kingdom on Tuesday (21/7/2026). The moment was attended by the Inspector General of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Rui Fernando Guedes Palmeiras Duerte. The AW149 helicopters will be operated by the Indonesian Navy. The AW149 is a medium multi-role military helicopter with a maximum weight of 8.6 tonnes, capable of carrying up to 16 fully armed personnel and reaching speeds of up to 310 kilometres per hour. The helicopter, produced in Casoria, Naples, Italy, has all-weather operational capability and a flexible configuration to support missions ranging from search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation to close air support. If followed up with a contract, it could lead to the supply of AW149 helicopters for search and rescue and disaster relief, for both land-based and shipborne operations. The programme supports the Indonesian Navy’s modernisation programme, strengthening emergency response capabilities. It will also further expand Leonardo’s presence in the Indonesian helicopter market, particularly for rescue, law enforcement, and passenger transport needs.