Leonardo welcomes the decision of the Canadian Government to proceed with the CH-149 Cormorant helicopter fleet upgrade and expansion program. To the 14 exemplars of CH-149 (Canadian designation of Leonardo's AW101 helicopter) currently in service, used for search and rescue tasks (Search and Rescue, SAR), seven additional units can be added. Leonardo and IMP Aerospace will act together with other Canadian companies - CAE, Rockwell Collins Canada and GE Canada - through the partnership called Team Cormorant.
The announcement of the Canadian Government confirms that AW101 is the only helicopter capable of satisfying the country's future search and rescue requirements, also taking into account what has already been ensured by the CH-149 Cormorant to date in terms of quality of the national SAR coverage and capacity offered to Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
Leonardo and the Cormorant Team will work with the Canadian Government to complete the assessment of the individual aspects of the requirement and finalize the modernization program (CMLU - Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade) and fleet expansion, which will also include simulation and training services. The solution offered by Leonardo and the Cormorant Team is based on the most advanced standard currently available for AW101 and will allow a significant reduction in intervention risks to overcome obsolescence and increase operational capabilities. The expansion of the fleet will also allow to redistribute the helicopters on all four SAR bases of the Canadian Air Force, responsible for managing the Cormorant, increasing the coverage of the territory. In the last two years, the support services provided by Leonardo, IMP Aerospace and GE Canada have enabled the Canadian Government to achieve a significant reduction in operating costs for the current fleet. In anticipation of extending helicopter operations to 2040 and beyond, the new program will allow further savings.
Leonardo and the Cormorant Team are also committed to working together with the aerospace and defense sector and with the Canadian university and research world to develop a solid proposal in the field of technological returns, in support of areas considered to be of strategic interest for the country. Leonardo has already shown excellent performances in this regard in the past, even exceeding the provisions of the original contract for the acquisition of the first AW101 Cormorants with a contribution of 121% and two years in advance. Since then, Leonardo has continued to support the country's aerospace and defense sector, purchasing Canadian goods and services for the Company's civil and military helicopter programs for the world market, for a value of more than 1,5 billion dollars. .
Leonardo will illustrate in Canada the advanced solutions proposed for the CMLU program during the CANSEC defense and security fair from 30 to 31 May (Booth 1511).
