Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace

AW09 joins Leonardo product range

A little more than a year after the acquisition of the Swiss company Kopter Group AG, the SH09 single-engine helicopter has joined the Leonardo Helicopters product range rebranded as AW09.

Image courtesy AW09 joins Leonardo

In June 2020 the helicopter was transferred to Pozzallo, Sicily, for the validation of the new tail rotor configuration and other aerodynamic modifications. In September it returned to Switzerland for further checks with the support of the Engineering and Operations team. The first flights began in October and a further retrofit was implemented in December, reconfirmed in March by the flight tests conducted by Giuseppe Afruni, Chief Test Pilot and Head of Flight Operations of the Helicopter Division in Italy.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT

The Kopter team is becoming gradually more and more integrated in the Leonardo Helicopters family, and will play an important role in the development of new technologies and essential technology enablers, with the contribution to the development of new hybrid and electrical propulsion systems, for instance. In this way, the long-term strategy goal of strengthening Leonardo’s market position will be pursued while Kopter will be able to become a centre of competence for light helicopters and innovative technologies.

The AW09 fits perfectly into the Helicopters Division portfolio, representing an additional step in the integration process of Kopter into Leonardo while further strengthening the offer in the single-engine category, where, with its latest generation performance and multi-role capability, it offers a further option to customers and operators thanks to increased modularity, modern electronic systems, high digitalization and the largest cabin and cargo hold in its category.

The AW09 is representative of Leonardo's leadership capacity in the field of innovation, thanks to its latest generation safety standards and the most advanced technologies, which will lead to the development of new advancements in the helicopter sector.

Advertisement
Teledyne

Currently the third prototype P3, which has accumulated over 40 flying hours in Switzerland since mid-January, is testing innovations to the main rotor, gearbox, and a new flight control design incorporated into the modern Garmin G3000H cockpit.

Two more prototypes, PS4 and PS5, are expected to begin in-flight testing this year.

 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
Manchester Airport has busiest ever June

Aerospace

Manchester Airport has busiest ever June

11 July 2025

More than three million passengers travelled through Manchester Airport last month – the first time the UK’s global gateway in the North has passed that mark in June.

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

Aerospace Defence Events

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

11 July 2025

Lane Electronics, a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s major electrical, electronic and optical connector manufacturers, will be Exhibiting at MSPO 2025 (2nd–5th September 2025, Kielce, Poland), where they will be displaying the latest connector innovations and demonstrating their UK based assembling and value add services.

LK Metrology acquires ProCon X-Ray

Aerospace

LK Metrology acquires ProCon X-Ray

11 July 2025

Best known as a manufacturer and global supplier of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and more recently laser scanning sensors, Castle Donington based LK Metrology Ltd has acquired ProCon X-Ray GmbH, a specialist German manufacturer of computed tomography (CT) systems.

Titan Airways adds first Embraer E190LR to its fleet

Aerospace

Titan Airways adds first Embraer E190LR to its fleet

11 July 2025

Stansted based European charter airline, Titan Airways, has announced that it had completed the purchase of its first Embraer E190LR regional jet.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT
Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

Aerospace Defence Events

Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

11 July 2025

Amersham based aerospace business Flitetec, has confirmed two major deals that it shook on at the recent Paris Air Show.

IFS appoints Kriti Sharma as CEO of Nexus Black

Aerospace Security

IFS appoints Kriti Sharma as CEO of Nexus Black

11 July 2025

IFS has appointed Kriti Sharma as CEO of IFS Nexus Black. This strategic move reinforces IFS’s commitment to industrial AI and fast-tracks the development of agentic AI systems designed for the asset- and service-intensive industries it serves.

Advertisement
Teledyne