Hi boys,
as you know, Italian AVES (Aviazione dell'Esercito, army air force) applies its own designations to aircraft; those designations, in practice, are frequently modified and seldom really used: I lost record of some variations...
Recently, Italian Ministry od Defence started application of an US-style designation system, mostly to the Aeronautica Militare (air force) aircraft but applicable also to those of the other services. Naturally, the aircraft makers have their own project designation system and all the resulting matter is a bit complex...
The one and only Italian attack elicopter is Agusta A.129 Mangusta, now AgustaWestland AW129 Mongoose.
The latest version is the '129C or CBT (for Combat), known by AVES as the EES or EES-1 (I suppose for Elicottero per Esplorazione e Scorta, Scout and Escorting Helicopter). From the production point of view there were three Lotti (lot) and several standard (G.05 for prototypes and G.07, G.09, G.11 and so on for the production aircraft).
Now AgustaWestland and AVES announced a new upgrade, the G.19, and a new designation: ARH-129D, mimicking the 'horribilis' US Army's ARH-70 Arapaho.
Now the latest standard is the G.17 (AH-129C?) and one of those helo is serving as test-bed for the G.19 'D' upgrade: differences are the Rafael Toplite OTSWS (Observation, Targeting ans Spike Weapon System) and the integration of anti-tank Spike missiles. Further information will be very welcome.
Nico
as you know, Italian AVES (Aviazione dell'Esercito, army air force) applies its own designations to aircraft; those designations, in practice, are frequently modified and seldom really used: I lost record of some variations...
Recently, Italian Ministry od Defence started application of an US-style designation system, mostly to the Aeronautica Militare (air force) aircraft but applicable also to those of the other services. Naturally, the aircraft makers have their own project designation system and all the resulting matter is a bit complex...
The one and only Italian attack elicopter is Agusta A.129 Mangusta, now AgustaWestland AW129 Mongoose.
The latest version is the '129C or CBT (for Combat), known by AVES as the EES or EES-1 (I suppose for Elicottero per Esplorazione e Scorta, Scout and Escorting Helicopter). From the production point of view there were three Lotti (lot) and several standard (G.05 for prototypes and G.07, G.09, G.11 and so on for the production aircraft).
Now AgustaWestland and AVES announced a new upgrade, the G.19, and a new designation: ARH-129D, mimicking the 'horribilis' US Army's ARH-70 Arapaho.
Now the latest standard is the G.17 (AH-129C?) and one of those helo is serving as test-bed for the G.19 'D' upgrade: differences are the Rafael Toplite OTSWS (Observation, Targeting ans Spike Weapon System) and the integration of anti-tank Spike missiles. Further information will be very welcome.
Nico
