The Hellenic Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is enhancing its emergency response capabilities by acquiring three Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters. As part of the recently concluded agreement, these state-of-the-art aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2026, with two units assigned for medical missions and disaster relief initiatives, while one unit will be allocated for the transportation of crisis management squads. The contract also includes a comprehensive 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 selection of the AW139 comes after a thorough and detailed tendering process executed by the Project Preparation Facility of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), illustrating the superior value-for-money proposition resulting from the blend of performance, mission capabilities, modern aesthetics, and versatility. This emergency response helicopter project was financed through the European Union – NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”. The initiative will empower Greece to enhance the efficiency of its disaster relief operations nationwide, confronting the distinct operational challenges presented by the complex topography and environmental factors of the Hellenic territory, which stretches from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to the summits of Mount Olympus. The decision to procure the AW139 reaffirms the Greek Government’s confidence in Leonardo’s rotorcraft technology and capabilities within the broader rescue operations sector, complementing the two AW109 Trekker light twin helicopters already deployed that support the national healthcare system.
The AW139s will boast a versatile and modular cabin layout capable of accommodating a mix of up to five passengers and two stretchers. The cabin can be quickly adapted, allowing for the potential of transporting up to 14 passengers, if necessary, to dispatch the incident management team.
With over 1400 units on order, more than 1200 units currently in operation, and over 4 million flight hours logged to date with more than 300 operators worldwide across over 90 countries, the AW139 has demonstrated its ability to meet all requirements across diverse market sectors such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR), Combat SAR (CSAR), Law Enforcement, firefighting, disaster relief, Energy, and Corporate – VIP domains. The AW139 has established the benchmark for Emergency Services Operations. Concerning overall rescue missions (including emergency medical services, disaster relief, maritime and land/mountain SAR, etc.), over 1 million flight hours have been recorded among the nearly 500 AW139 helicopters operational, performing emergency response operations night and day across all continents, particularly in Northern and Southern Mediterranean nations. In the context of the AW139, its interoperability to manage demanding operations during crises has been validated numerous times: Italy’s Air Force, Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza, Police, Fire Brigade, all utilizing AW139s in their fleets, operating jointly or collaborating with other countries using the same helicopter model like Spain, Malta, and Cyprus. Over 220 units are active in the Mediterranean region with more than 40 operators.
