If only Leonardo Da Vinci could see where his ambitions in flight have led today, thanks to Leonardo, he wouldn’t believe it. A company born from the fusion and transformation of undeniable experience, consolidated over the years, was prominently present at FIA 2024 (Farnborough International Airshow), one of the world’s most important aerospace shows, held biennially at its historic location at Farnborough Airport, southwest of London. Recently concluded, Leonardo was one of the first pavilions on display to greet visitors as they entered the show.
Leonardo, a leader in innovation for the future of flight, both for training and operational use, brought its top assets to the event, showcasing their latest evolutions in addition to its well-established rotary-wing aircraft.
Leonardo M346
Leading the charge is the M346, with significant capability enhancements, particularly in avionics and support for the training syllabus. These improvements will equip both training-only aircraft and the fighter variant, the 346FA (Fighter Attack), now renamed the M346D Block 20 (Trainer) and the M346F Block 20 (Combat). The latter features both air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.
The Block 20 represents the first major evolutionary step, with further future Blocks expected, adapting as training or operational scenarios evolve. For both “Fighter” and “Trainer” versions, the goal is to prepare pilots for the next step in operational training on 4th-generation+ aircraft like the Eurofighter or 5th-generation jets such as the F-35, common in the West, or future 6th-generation GCAP aircraft.
The new human-machine interface includes a complete cockpit redesign, replacing traditional Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) with Large Area Displays (LADs) that are touchscreen-enabled, mirroring what pilots will encounter in future aircraft after completing advanced training. The “Fighter” variant will also feature an electronically scanned radar for faster information delivery and a Low Profile Head-Up Display (LPHUD) that further enhances the human-machine interface.
Substantial upgrades to the helmet, including the Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD), will incorporate virtual reality and artificial intelligence, enhancing training, technical support, and maintenance. This enables more advanced virtual live construction, such as ground and airborne pilots interacting and cooperating through these new features, simulating more interconnected human-machine environments.
This evolution ensures Leonardo is future-ready, with this step becoming the standard for all future production aircraft. Retrofit packages, either partial or complete, will allow upgrades to existing aircraft, whether it’s just the cockpit, radar, or HUD, with upgrades expected to be available by late 2025/early 2026.
When asked if this evolution would be seen at IFTS in Decimomannu, Leonardo responded that there’s no proposal for retrofitting the existing fleet yet. However, with the cooperation of the Italian Air Force, Leonardo’s IFTS partner, future partial or complete updates are possible with quick, minimally invasive interventions.
Leonardo AW249
Another flagship innovation unveiled by Leonardo is the AW249 attack helicopter. Currently, there are two flying prototypes, with a third set to fly soon and a fourth by the end of the year. A contract has been signed for the delivery of 7 production units starting in 2027, followed by the delivery of 12 more units, reaching a total of 48 helicopters in Full Operational Capability (FOC) standard, as required by the Italian Army. The delivery rate will be 7-8 helicopters per year from 2028 onwards.
Leonardo developed the new AW249 in close collaboration with the armed forces, leveraging 40 years of operational experience with the AW129 Mangusta. The technological and industrial excellence provided by Leonardo, together with the Italian Army, has given rise to one of the most ambitious projects, going beyond the current state of rotary-wing technology and bringing the future into a solid reality.
The AW249 is not intended to be an AW129 Mark2 or even an evolution of it, but an entirely new machine. It draws on the Italian Army Aviation’s consolidated operational experience while introducing a true technological revolution. This approach is aimed at meeting evolving operational needs, which are vastly different from the scenarios of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Mangusta was a cutting-edge machine.
This futuristic aircraft features avionics far beyond what was possible 30 or 40 years ago, with its design centered around being a node in a multi-domain operational theater. It operates in full synergy with everything around it—air, land, sea, cyber, and space.
The AW249 is not just a state-of-the-art helicopter, but a true platform designed to stay relevant for the next 30 years in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. For this reason, it’s not enough to have an excellent product; it needs to be a multi-domain platform with features that Leonardo is currently designing, testing, and implementing on the helicopter. Thanks to the clear vision of the armed forces, this will be operationally available in a few years, something that is rarely claimed in the West.
The AW249, 80% of which is produced primarily in Europe, with much of its components made in Italy, is also an appealing product for export. With an “open by design” architecture, it offers the ability to be customized according to client needs, allowing for the progressive implementation of operational capabilities. This also opens the door for third-party companies to make customizations, creating industrial and technological collaborations so that potential customers can play a role in the evolution of the AW249.
It is a completely different machine from the Mangusta, with much more advanced performance, such as its propulsion system, which delivers over 5000 HP of power compared to the Mangusta’s 2000 HP. It is larger, heavier—nearly twice as much—and has a greater operational range.
The cockpit is equipped with Large Area Displays (LADs) touchscreen systems for the pilot and copilot/gunner, and a helmet capable of “Sensor Fusion,” providing the crew with enhanced Situation Awareness (SA) even in zero-visibility conditions. It also features a highly sophisticated self-protection suite, capable of detecting threats, even small-caliber ones, and countering IR threats.
The AW249 is not just aiming to be the most modern combat helicopter, but something that goes beyond current market technology—a platform capable of adapting to evolving operational scenarios. For this reason, the Italian Army, together with Leonardo, has chosen to make an evolutionary leap that is unprecedented in history, and which, at the moment, finds no comparison.
Leonardo AW609
Finally, we asked Leonardo about the progress of the commercialization of the AW609 tiltrotor. Currently, the aircraft is ready following various experimental and development activities, fully prepared for use in all aspects, including the training syllabi for pilots and maintenance technicians.
The last step now lies with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), which is in the final stages of granting the necessary certifications. These certifications have objectively taken longer than usual due to the creation of a new civil-use powerlift certification class, which imposes a series of limitations and restrictions compared to a military aircraft, especially in terms of operational use, safety, and infrastructure, as in many cases, and within certain limits, the AW609 can use pre-existing facilities for rotary-wing aircraft.
Leonardo emphasizes that this is not an experimental program but something already ready for production, industrialized, and commercialized, with clients and a production line also in Grottaglie. Entry into operational service is expected by 2025. There is already a Full Flight simulator in the USA, and training packages are ready for both maintenance personnel and pilots. Clients are already prepared to receive the aircraft, and more will follow once certification is obtained. Interested customers include both passenger transport and government sectors.
The AW609 tiltrotor is also capable of performing special missions, such as patrol, search and rescue, which makes it appealing for military or government use. Recently, deck landing trials were conducted on the Cavour ship, with excellent results demonstrating its operability from the ship. This success is the result of a multilateral cooperation initiated in 2022 between Leonardo, the Italian Navy, and, alongside them, the Italian Army and the Guardia di Finanza (GdF). While they have different interests, they work in synergy on two operational areas for the use of the tiltrotor and its applications.
The first of these is offshore logistical transport, with the Navy interested in point-to-ship and ship-to-ship transport. Two additional requirements involve patrolling and surveillance, given the GdF’s. interest in operating at sea, where it has authority. The GdF operates a diverse fleet of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and is now considering the AW609 as a bridge platform between the two types.
The AW609 is not the only representative of the fast rotorcraft world, a sector that is increasingly asserting itself due to its versatility. It is already used in some military environments and is becoming more prominent, as in the case of the U.S. Army, which has chosen the Bell V280 Valor for faster logistical deployment in operational areas.
In the Old Continent, there are currently two studies underway. One is funded by the European Defence Fund and called NGRT (Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies), where Leonardo leads with Airbus and Sikorsky in researching the transition from conventional helicopters to tiltrotors. The other is supported by NATO and is named NGRC (Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability), which focuses on ideal, replacement, or complementary architectures. Leonardo, in collaboration with Bell, has proposed a tiltrotor architecture, becoming the only company in Europe to have developed a tiltrotor, overcoming the model’s inherent limitations while continuing research in this sector.
The tiltrotor remains the best solution on the market, not only in terms of speed, which surpasses Airbus’ “Racer,” but also in range and fuel efficiency, thanks to its ability to fly with lift generated by wings during cruise. This is achieved by converting its rotating blades into regular propellers.
Moreover, during cruise flight at over 500 km/h, the pressurized cabin allows it to fly higher, saving fuel, increasing range, and reducing CO2 emissions. Its faster transfer speed means it spends less time in the air compared to a normal helicopter, resulting in fewer emissions. Additionally, a pressurized cabin enables smoother transport for injured patients or those with heart conditions, allowing medical staff to operate with greater comfort and safety.
Leonardo does not consider the AW609 a helicopter replacement but rather a complementary vehicle capable of performing specific tasks. It’s a versatile machine that works alongside helicopters without replacing them. In the near future, operators who work with both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft may choose to optimize and modernize their aging fleets by opting for the AW609 as a substitute for both types of platforms.
As for SAR (Search and Rescue) missions, the AW609 could be used as a pure air ambulance, overcoming the barriers a regular rotorcraft may face, such as adverse weather conditions. The AW609 can fly above such conditions thanks to its pressurized cabin. For search and rescue operations, it can cover a larger area using wing-borne flight, speeding up the search process and increasing the chances of survival, as this phase is often crucial to the success of the recovery. The injured can then be retrieved in rotary flight mode and quickly transported to the nearest hospital.
This year, FIA2024 proved to be one of the best showcases where Leonardo could present its crown jewels, reaffirming its absolute leadership in the sector.
Article and images: Simone Vicari (FIA2024, M346), Emanuele Ferretti (AW609), Edoardo Govoni (AW609), Leonardo (AW249)