Preliminary Sales Contracts for the Leonardo AW09

Leonardo, March 12, 2025 - Verticon, Dallas, TX - Leonardo AW09 next generation single engine helicopter’s market footprint continues to expand with further demand and distributors reinforcing their commitment with new preliminary sales orders as the program development makes progress.

Helitech Asia PTE LTD, based in Singapore, was appointed AW09 distributor in 2023 for Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam—markets with robust interest in the AW09.

Helitech, having initially committed to 10 preliminary sales contracts in 2023, has now signed an additional 10 to meet rising customer demand, as the first 10 units have already been allocated to end users.

Kaan Air, a long-term Leonardo distributor for the AW119Kx, AW109 family, AW169, AW139, and AW189, has extended its Distributorship mandate to the AW09. Following this appointment, Kaan Air is adding five more preliminary sales contracts in response to growing interest from Turkish operators, bringing its total commitment to 10 units.

Synerjet, an established Leonardo distributor for the AW119Kx, AW109 series and AW169 in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay, has now been appointed as the official AW09 distributor for the same countries. Synerjet has already signed preliminary sales contract for five units in 2024.

As the AW09 program advances, the aircraft continues to generate strong interest from operators worldwide. Rotorcraft companies and private operators highly welcome the AW09 for its performance, versatility, and cutting-edge design - marking a significant evolution in the single-engine helicopter segment.

The AW09 perfectly complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single-segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Also, designed as a true digital helicopter and connected from day one, the AW09 will allow data transmission, gathering, and analysis for technical support, scheduled maintenance, and flight efficiency/safety capabilities with no equal in the single-engine market. The total number of preliminary sales for the AW09 is now nearly 130 units globally.


Paul de Jonge, SVP Commercial Market Development & Global Accounts at Leonardo Helicopters, said "We sincerely appreciate our partners’ continued commitment to the AW09, which is expanding its presence in global markets and establishing itself as the new benchmark in its category. These growing partnerships reflect our increasing competitiveness in the single-engine helicopter market."

In recent months, several milestones have been achieved during the developmental activities such as completing engine icing tests in collaboration with Safran, progressing the bird strike compliance demonstration by successfully completing another shot in the second most critical location of the windshield, finalizing all fatigue tests for the main and tail rotor blades, and achieving the first engine start of the Tie Down Helicopter with the track and balance of the main and tail rotor blades.

As the industrialization of the AW09 begins, the first serial aircraft (P6) has now entered the Final Assembly Line at Vergiate, Italy, marking another major milestone in the program development.

Synerjet Latina SA Appointed Official Distributor for the AW09 for Several Latin American Countries

Synerjet Latina SA (Synerjet), official distributor of Leonardo civil helicopters for Colombia, Peru, Chile and Paraguay since 2023, is further expanding its collaboration with Leonardo with the purchase of two AW169 light-intermediate helicopters in utility configuration with deliveries in late 2027. Moreover, the company has been appointed an official distributor for the next-generation AW09 single helicopter in the relevant markets.

Since the start of collaboration with Leonardo, Synerjet had ordered 9 helicopter of various models and signed preliminary sales contracts for 5 AW09s. With these latest steps, Latin America continues to prove one of the most attractive markets for the AW169 helicopter as also the interest in the new AW09 keeps growing across the entire region.

Designed with the principle of maximum flexibility, the AW169 continues to provide all new capabilities to operators looking for an ideal combination of light helicopter cost with higher category performance, payload, and cabin space, all combined with comprehensive and ever-growing support and training services. Over 330 AW169s are on order today by operators in over 30 countries for the widest scope of applications including utility, VIP transport, EMS, energy, law enforcement, disaster relief, firefighting, electronic newsgathering and military duties.

The AW09 continues to generate a positive response from all geographies worldwide as the programme development progresses. Rotorcraft companies and private operators highly welcome the AW09 for its outstanding characteristics and multirole capabilities that represent a significant evolution compared to existing products in this category.

The AW09 perfectly complements Leonardo’s product range in the Long Light Single-segment, introducing an all-new design aircraft to sustain long-term competitive positioning in this weight category. Also, designed as a true digital helicopter and connected from day one, the AW09 will allow data transmission, gathering and analysis for technical support, scheduled maintenance and flight efficiency/safety capabilities with no equals on the single engine market. The total number of preliminary sales for the AW09 is nearly 130 units globally and keeps growing steadily.

About Leonardo : Leonardo is an international industrial group, among the main global companies in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S). With 53,000 employees worldwide, the company approaches global security through the Helicopters, Electronics, Aircraft, Cyber & Security and Space sectors, and is a partner on the most important international programmes, within these sectors, such as Eurofighter, NH-90, FREMM, GCAP, and Eurodrone. Leonardo has significant production capabilities in Italy, the UK, Poland, and the USA. Leonardo utilises its subsidiaries, joint ventures, and shareholdings, which include Leonardo DRS (72.3%), MBDA (25%), ATR (50% ), Hensoldt (22.8%), Telespazio (67%), Thales Alenia Space (33%), and Avio (29.6%). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2023 Leonardo recorded new orders for €17.9 billion, with an order book of €39.5 billion and consolidated revenues of €15.3 billion. ncluded in the MIB ESG index, the company has also been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) since 2010.