Contract from almost 700 million for Leonardo in Canada. The Italian group has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Department of National Defense, worth one billion Canadian dollars (equal to 690 million euros), for the modernization program of the 13 AW101/CH-149 SAR helicoptersCormorant' – dedicated to search and rescue currently in service – and the addition of three more helicopters, "ensuring greater capabilities and extending the fleet's operations up to 2042 and beyond", explains a note. Thus the Canadian fleet will expand to 16 aircraft.
"The fleet of AW101/CH-149 Cormorant helicopters - underlined Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters - will provide the Canadian Air Force with solid and technologically advanced search and rescue capabilities, to operate in any weather condition throughout Canada ”. Not only. "The modernization program, through the Cormorant Team, will reduce fleet management costs and at the same time", explained Cutillo, "it will further increase its reliability, capacity and safety, to the benefit of Canadian citizens". The Cormorant, added Leonardo's CEO, Alessandro Profumo, "is the ideal helicopter for the Canadian Government, able to meet the requirements of its Armed Forces, with important returns for Canadian industry and the best economic benefits for citizens ”. On 22 December, the Leonardo stock lost 0,68% and fell to 7,914 euros on Piazza Affari despite the positive comments from analysts on the agreement reached with the trade union organizations for the early retirement of around 400 group resources on a national basis
The details of the contract and the programme
A contract, the company said, that will enhance the performance of helicopter systems and technologies, ensure compliance with the latest and future airspace regulations, and enable the return of Cormorant helicopters to its main operating base in Trenton.
Il program will include: latest generation avionics, a new digital cockpit, more powerful engines, wireless communications in the cabin, the latest standard of sensors for search and rescue including an electro-optical system and one for locating mobile phones. All capabilities that will make it possible to reduce the time required for research and increase the rescue capacity.
Finally, the program will be implemented by Team Cormorant led by Leonardo and composed by IMP Aerospace and Defence, GE Canada e collins aerospace
