Agusta Makes China Inroad; Strong Showing at Heli-Expo

This A109 Power, for the City of Dalian, is Agusta's first recent sale in China.

Following the sale of an Agusta A109 Power to the City of Dalian, Italy's Agusta has agreed to cooperate on future projects with China's helicopter industry.

Agusta will help CATIC/ AVIC II design and develop the transmission for a new 5-ton Chinese helicopter. It will also help with additional design activities connected with the Chinese medium helicopter (CMH) project, and in particular with the CMH re-engine program.

An MoU between the companies also calls for Agusta to collaborate in joint development of new helicopter models.

The moves are part of China's national strategy to become a leading helicopter manufacturer within the next few years.

Meanwhile, Agusta is here in force at Heli-Expo (Booth 100), with victories in the last year including the sale of two A109E Power helicopters to the U.S. Coast Guard for its Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Ten program as the MH-68, with options on another six, and deliveries of the first single-engined A119 Koalas to customers in Australia and South America.

The Coast Guard Powers will be lightly armed and used for drug interdiction.

Agusta is featuring the A119 Koala and A109 Power helicopters on its exhibit here, and as Bell/Agusta Aerospace is showing mockups of the BA 609 civil tiltrotor and 12-passenger AB 139 utility helicopter in the static display area.