Leonardo’s involvement in the air show revolves around the upcoming innovations in aviation and sophisticated electronics. As a pioneer in military pilot education, Leonardo provides a comprehensive training solution encompassing platforms, systems, and services that uphold the highest benchmarks of quality at every training phase for clients across the globe. In the UAE, Leonardo has delivered over 100 helicopters, advanced naval technologies, secure communication systems, space innovations, and training aircraft.
Leonardo, the globally recognized aerospace and defense firm headquartered in Italy, is showcasing its groundbreaking AW609 tiltrotor for the first time in the region at the 2021 Dubai Airshow (14-18 November). With a booth (stand 530 – UK Pavilion) and an outdoor static exhibit (Pavilion S19) at the event, Leonardo is eager to receive visitors to explore some of its cutting-edge technologies, including the sole tiltrotor in the industry poised to achieve civil certification. Additional high-tech apparatus on display will feature advanced electronics, helicopters, and defensive technologies.
“In 2019, the Dubai Airshow marked the last significant Aerospace and Defense gathering before the pandemic,” states Pasquale Di Bartolomeo, Chief Commercial Officer at Leonardo. “This year’s edition, occurring as we begin to recover from the global crisis triggered by Covid-19, is set to be a vital showcase for Leonardo. We are confident that this event will succeed even amid ongoing caution, much like the Emirati government’s highly impressive and safe Expo 2020 Dubai, to which Leonardo proudly contributes. Our partnerships in the UAE and throughout the Middle East remain crucial to Leonardo, and we are optimistic that the Dubai Airshow will allow us to further cement these relationships and pursue diverse business prospects.”
This strong bond between Leonardo and its regional collaborators drives the decision to unveil the AW609 tiltrotor at the Dubai Airshow 2021, representing its inaugural appearance at an aerospace and defense exhibition outside of Europe and the U.S. The AW609 is an extraordinary engineering accomplishment: with its capability to adjust the orientation of its two rotors in under 60 seconds, it can ascend vertically like a helicopter while operating in-flight akin to an airplane. Designed for a multitude of missions, including passenger conveyance, medical services, civil protection, and search and rescue operations, the AW609 can fly at speeds exceeding 500 km/h. It boasts a range of nearly 1,400 km, which extends to over 2,000 km with auxiliary fuel tanks. The AW609, showcased at the Dubai Airshow, was transported to Dubai for the inauguration of the groundbreaking helicopter terminal, constructed by Leonardo in collaboration with Falcon Aviation Services at the Expo 2020 Dubai venue. Here, the company also reintroduced ‘Agusta’, revitalizing the legendary helicopter brand as the hallmark for Leonardo’s VIP transport products and services.
At booth 530 in the UK Pavilion, Leonardo will display its premium aircraft defense technologies, including BriteCloud and Miysis DIRCM, alongside state-of-the-art airborne surveillance electronics, represented by the Osprey AESA radar and SAGE electronic support measures system. BriteCloud is a countermeasure for combat, transport, and specialized mission aircraft offering next-gen defense against radar-guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Fired like a flare, it incorporates a powerful miniature jammer that diverts incoming missiles toward BriteCloud as it descends away from the aircraft, ensuring that the missile detonates safely away from its targeted objective. To counter InfraRed (IR)-guided threats, Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM employs a high-energy laser to ‘dazzle’ incoming missiles, diverting them from their intended trajectory. Leonardo’s extensive experience in laser technology and precision targeting facilitates this operation at breathtaking speed, empowering Miysis to defend against multiple, simultaneous missile threats.
To guarantee that aircraft crews maintain peak situational awareness, the Osprey radar provides multi-domain AESA capabilities, supporting a wide array of missions while maximizing visibility across various platforms—whether fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or uncrewed. For operators seeking electronic intelligence capabilities, the Leonardo SAGE system delivers unparalleled situational awareness. The system has particularly been integrated into the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) and is being offered to customers as a fully-integrated solution aboard that system.
Leonardo’s technologies have bolstered the security and defense of the Emirates for over half a century, and the Company continues to collaborate—through its local branch in Abu Dhabi—with the UAE government, Armed Forces, and partners. Leonardo technologies have equipped Emiri Armed Forces since the mid-‘70s, initially supplying SF-260 basic trainers and OTO 76/62 naval guns. Over the years, Leonardo has delivered integrated naval systems encompassing combat management, defense systems, naval radars, fire control systems, missile electronics, and military radios for more than 40 vessels in the UAE, including Ghannatha, Baynunah, Falaj 2, and Abu Dhabi-class corvettes. Building on this legacy, in February, Leonardo announced its intent to Tawazun, presenting itself as a partner for designing and developing the UAE national Combat Management System, which will serve as the cornerstone of the UAE Navy’s future naval capabilities and ensure the legacy for the progressive enhancement of the existing fleet. Leonardo’s high-tech platforms in the UAE encompass over 100 helicopters, secure communications solutions, space technologies, and training aircraft, including the Aermacchi MB-339 jet trainer, selected for the Emirati national aerobatic team Al Fursan. Leonardo is delighted that the Al Fursan pilots trained in Italy, utilizing the company’s aircraft and pedagogical systems.
Indeed, Leonardo stands as a global frontrunner in the training sector with its M-345 and M-346 platforms, which can fulfill the entire pilot training curriculum. The new Fighter Attack variant of the M-346, already delivered to its first international client, retains all the features of the advanced trainer model while also being a light fighter aircraft suitable for a broad spectrum of operational tasks at significantly lower expenses than other front-line combat aircraft. As sophisticated pilot training continues to be essential in the region, Leonardo stands prepared to welcome students at the International Flight Training School (IFTS), a strategic partnership between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo. Just a few weeks ago, the IFTS announced its third client, and an expanded IFTS campus is underway at Decimomannu Air Force Base in Sardinia. This advanced flight academy will accommodate students and technical personnel with amenities such as lodging, recreational spaces, a dining area, and sports facilities. Its infrastructure will support the operations of a fleet of 22 M-346 aircraft (designated T-346A by the Italian Air Force). A dedicated facility will be allocated for the Ground Based Training System (GBTS), equipped with classrooms and an advanced training regime utilizing state-of-the-art simulation technologies.
