AW249 Fenice: Informations and possible future versions

[Regio Ammiraglio]

The AW249 Fenice is an Italian attack helicopter designed and realized by the Italian company Leonardo. It was made to replace the A129 Mangusta within the Italian army. It made its first flight in 2022, and now we have two prototypes flying, with two more to come in the upcoming years. The helicopter is planned to enter service in 2027, with a total of 48 units ordered.

Compared to the A129, the AW249 features improvments in every single department, from its weight to its armor.

The two current prototypes are:

CSX82069 (first prototype, first flight in 2022)

X82097 (second prototype, first flight in 2023)

As for now, the two prototypes have alredy tested the 20 mm cannon and the unguided rokets; soon, a campaign for test the spike ATGM will likely start.

General characteristics:

Starting with the general characteristics, the AW249 has a total weight of 8300 kg, nearly double the size of the A129, and it also has 2800 kg of useful load, more than twice the size of the A129.
In the engine department, the helicopter is fitted with two Avio Aero CT7-8E6, making the AW249 around 30 km/h faster than the Mangusta.

In the avionics department, the helicopter will be equipped with the latest generation of sensors that will make the pilots able to control drones and loitering munitions. It will also come with a new elmet that will generate a 3D view of the area under and near the helicopter, giving the pilots a better view of the near terrain with unfavorable conditions.

Moving to the defense department, the Aw249 will feature a classic automatic system for launch flares and chaff when ingaged, lws, rwr, and anti-jamming equipment, and it was also said that the Aw249 will be equipped with stealth coating to reduce its radar trace.

Lastly, in the weapons department, the AW249 is very well fitted with a very good amount of modern anti-tank missiles. It will mainly use the Spike ER2 and LR2 anty tank missiles, made by the Israeli company Rafael, but it is also possible that in the future it will be equipped with the Spike NLOS if the Italian army gets it. Unguided and guided rokets such as the Hydra 70 mm and CIRIT will also be available, as well as anti-air missiles such as the Stinger and Peraphs, the new Italian stinger replacement in the future. Initially, the Italian army wanted to reuse the alredy in service Toplite III from the A129 into the new heli, but that possibility was soon scrapped in favor of a new optic developed by Leonardo. Not much is known about this new optic, and not even the name is available. The turret remained the same OTO TM197B 20 mm rotary cannon, but in the future, it is possible that the AW249 will be fitted with the Gatling 20 (the Italian version of the TM197B from Leonardo) or the new Blaze 30 mm cannon developed also by Leonardo.

Variants:

As of now, only the anty tank version was made, the one currently ordered by the Italian army. But it is possible that, like the A129, more versions will be made in the future
Here is a list containing the possible future versions:
Naval version (version equipped with naval search radar, torpedoes, and anti-ship missiles)
Drone version (unmanned anti-tank version)
Export versions (see the paragraph on possible exports)

Export possibilities:

The AW249 is already in the eye of various nations that have shown interest in its development and could order the unit when it is ready.

The most interested nation for now is Algeria, which has been expressing its interest in the platform since 2019. It is also rumored that the Algerian army has already ordered seven units.

We have then Hungary, who showed interest in 2024.

It is also rumored that other nations such as Romania, Brazil, and Germany are interested, although we don't have confirmation of this. The only data regarding these nations we have available is from the Italian military magazine RID.



If countries such as Germany and Brazil order the helicopter, it is possible that they will be equipped with different aircraft and different armaments.



Many thanks to @NicholasConcu for the help!



I will leave some pictures of the prototypes and some general information about the platform.

 

[Regio Ammiraglio]

Here some info regarding the Gatling20 and the Blaze30 cannons from Leonardo

RID Rivista Italiana Difesa - Nuove mitragliere da 20 e 30 mm da Leonardo

Nuove mitragliere da 20 e 30 mm da Leonardo

www.rid.it

 

[NicholasConcu]

Leonardo plans to get 2 more prototypes flying later this year too. The program overall seems to be going smoothly.

 

[TomcatViP]

Is that me or the pod´s opening ends were edited?

 

[TomS]

Is that me or the pods opening ends were edited?

Sure.looka like it. Possibly there are guided rocket seekers they want to conceal or something like that?

 

[Regio Ammiraglio]

Is that me or the pod´s opening ends were edited?

If You are referring to the rokets launchers, the pods You can see in the pictures are very likely mock up's for simulate rokets pods. We haven't seen a picture of it with actual rokets yet.It is also possible that it is like You say and those are normal pod with the frontal part hidden.

 

[Regio Ammiraglio]

Sure.looka like it. Possibly there are guided rocket seekers they want to conceal or something like that?

By looking at this picture, it seem You were right

 

[yasotay]

It could be that they are data pods meant to mimic rocket pods, but also may be dummy pods that have the weight (and drag) of a regular rocket pod to test the maneuverability and flying qualities of a heavier loaded aircraft. Like Turkey, Italy appears to be moving along at a faster pace with platform testing.

 

[Regio Ammiraglio]

It could be that they are data pods meant to mimic rocket pods, but also may be dummy pods that have the weight (and drag) of a regular rocket pod to test the maneuverability and flying qualities of a heavier loaded aircraft. Like Turkey, Italy appears to be moving along at a faster pace with platform testing.

Yeah probably they are Just dummy pods for emulate rokets

 

[Forest Green]

Why do some helicopters have the gun mounted so close to the nose, isn't that worse for accuracy?

 

[TomcatViP]

To be able to fire upward when needed.

 

[yasotay]

Why do some helicopters have the gun mounted so close to the nose, isn't that worse for accuracy?

More room for electronics, or a larger ammunition drum. Most cannon on helicopter are more for suppression than accurate target destruction. Over time they will make the controlling algorithm more precise.