Leonardo Fiies Apache Competitor Aw249 Helicopter at ILA Berlin 2026 Airshow

Billed as Europe’s answer to Boeing’s Apache attack helicopter, Leonardo debuted its AW249 next generation combat helicopter in flight display for the first time at ILA Berlin airshow.

The helicopter boasts a comprehensive package of breakthrough technologies and mission capabilities to enhance situational awareness and decision-making, while sustaining operational tempo and tactical manoeuvre, and pursuing and maintaining dominance in the battlefield against current and emerging threats, according to a Leonardo statement.

The result of strong collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Defence and Leonardo, the AW249 (designated AH-249A NEES - Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scorta, and known as the ‘Fenice’) is the only Western clean-sheet combat helicopter design in development to meet stringent emerging operational requirements for the next 30+ years.

It leverages capabilities and technologies neither available elsewhere today nor expected to be mirrored by other platforms before several years from its operational readiness, uniquely and ideally bridging a further gradual evolution of military vertical lift.

To manage a rapidly evolving threat landscape, the AW249 features a complete open architecture with opportunity for significant further growth and integration of complementary capabilities in the future.

High performance

The AW249 boasts high performance in speed, range, power margin and payload, Hot & High conditions and manoeuvrability for advanced nap-of-the-earth flight, and this performance is core to the AW249 in its ability to be fully integrated and interoperable in the modern multi-domain battlefield (air-land-sea-space-cyber).

The AW249 features a large area display human-machine interface with multi-touch screen recognition devices in the tandem-seat cockpit and a highly sophisticated Leonardo-developed Battle Management System.

These displays, paired with modern pilot helmets, enable the crew to rapidly access critical information on flight, navigation and the mission provided by multiple sensing and advanced connectivity. Artificial Intelligence and automation are exploited throughout the AW249 to generate capacity for the crew and aid in decision making throughout all phases of a mission.   

Multi-mission helicopter

The AW249 performs a variety of missions including aerial and ground escort, close air support, close combat attack and air interdiction. The helicopter can also execute reconnaissance operations, acting as information node within a complex C4 architecture (ISTAR), or using surveillance systems onboard or of cooperating units to scan the battlespace, identify friendly and adversary ground units for its own use, or to disseminate the information through a secure channel to a Command & Control Centre.

The AW249 has been built to leverage advanced Crewed-Uncrewed teaming (CUC-T) opportunities as they emerge in the future. Powerful engines enable operations in the most extreme conditions, with shipboard operational capability designed in from the start.

Weapons payload

The AW249 is equipped with a flexible weapon system that includes guided and unguided 70mm rockets, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-ground missiles, in addition to a 20mm 3-barrell Gatling gun. Outstanding survivability leverages on an advanced Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS), together with armoured seats and ballistic tolerant fuel tanks, crashworthiness and low detectability – in addition to the superior situational awareness delivered by its navigation and sensor-fusion, as well robust cyber-protection.