AMI's final HH-139B delivered

On 31 January 2022, Leonardo delivered the last of the seventeen ordered Leonardo HH-139B helicopters to the Aeronautica Militare (ItAF, Italian Air Force). HH-139B MM82038 with code 15-75 was flown to Cervia air base near Ravenna, to join the 83º Gruppo SAR.

Intended as a dedicated AMI variant of Leonardo's successful AW139 platform, the HH-139B will be used for a range of missions including (Combat) Search And Rescue (CSAR), fire-fighting and Slow Mover Interceptor training exercises.

The first HH-139B was delivered in December 2020. The seventeen examples will join the current fleet of thirteen multirole HH-139As and four VH-139As. The HH-139B differs from the first batch of HH-139As by featuring a wider series of equipment and technical solutions.

It is recognizable by the undercarriage, which sits lower and is the standard for the civilian AW139. It also carries a Wescam MX-15i HD multi-sensor under the nose section, a Trakka searchlight fitted to the left hand side of the fuselage and the presence of a dual Goodrich hoist, replacing the single one on the HH-139A model.

The crew comprises two pilots, a systems and/or winch operator and an air-rescuer. But to meet other eventualities, a medical assistant or a second air-rescuer can be carried when necessary.

The Scramble Magazine databae for Italy has the following HH-139Bs on strength with the 15° Stormo Stefano Cagna:

MM81985 15-55 (c/n 31906)
MM81986 15-56 (c/n 31905)
MM81989 15-57 (c/n 31911)
MM81990 15-60 (c/n 31912)
MM81991 15-61 (c/n 31923)
MM82003 15-62 (c/n 31926)
MM82007 15-63 (c/n 31927)
MM82011 15-64 (c/n 31930)
MM82013 15-65 (c/n 31931)
MM82017 15-66 (c/n 31940)
MM82018 15-67 (c/n 31941)
MM81023 15-70 (c/n 31943)
MM82026 15-71 (c/n 31944)
MM82028 15-72 (c/n 31948)
MM82029 15-73 (c/n 31950)
MM82030 15-74 (c/n 31953)
MM82038 15-75 (c/n 31958)

Photo (just illustrative) by Daniel Abela (via jetphotos.com)