The Hellenic Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is advancing its emergency response capabilities by procuring three Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters. As part of the recently finalized agreement, these new aircraft are anticipated to arrive in 2026, with two units allocated for medical missions and disaster relief operations, while one unit will be designated for the transportation of crisis management teams. The contract also encompasses an extensive technical, logistical support, and training package. The AW139s will be utilized by the Fire Brigade on behalf of the Ministry from a base located in Attica.
The choice of the AW139 follows a comprehensive and meticulous tendering process conducted by the Project Preparation Facility of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), illustrating the most advantageous value-for-money proposition due to the combination of performance, mission capabilities, modern design, and adaptability. This emergency response helicopter initiative was financed through the European Union – NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”. The programme will empower Greece to improve the effectiveness of its disaster relief operations nationwide, encountering the unique operational obstacles posed by the intricate topography and environmental circumstances of the Hellenic territory, which extends from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to the peaks of Mount Olympus. The choice of the AW139 reaffirms the Greek Government’s trust in Leonardo’s rotorcraft technology and capabilities in the broader rescue operations domain, complementing the two AW109 Trekker light twin helicopters already in operation that support the national healthcare service.
The AW139s will be equipped with a versatile and modular cabin configuration capable of accommodating a combination of up to five passengers and two stretchers. The cabin can be swiftly modified, allowing for the possibility of transporting up to 14 passengers, if necessary, to deploy the incident management team.
With over 1400 units on order, more than 1200 units currently operational, and over 4 million flight hours recorded to date with more than 300 operators globally across over 90 nations, the AW139 has showcased its capability to satisfy all demands in various market applications such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR), Combat SAR (CSAR), Law Enforcement, firefighting, disaster relief, Energy, and Corporate – VIP sectors. The AW139 has set the standard for Emergency Services Operations. Regarding overall rescue missions (encompassing emergency medical services, disaster relief, maritime and land/mountain SAR, etc.), more than 1 million flight hours have been logged to date among the nearly 500 AW139 helicopters operational, conducting emergency response operations day and night across all continents, especially in Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries. In the context of the AW139, its interoperability to manage challenging operations during crises has been proven multiple times: Italy’s Air Force, Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza, Police, Fire Brigade, all operating AW139s in their fleets, jointly or collaborating with other nations using the same helicopter model like Spain, Malta, and Cyprus. Over 220 units are operational in the Mediterranean region with more than 40 operators.
