On The Record with
AMEDEO CAPORALETTI, AGUSTAWESTLAND
"Individually, Agusta and Westland are successful businesses.
Together they become stronger still. Consolidation within the
aerospace defense industry is an irreversible global trend, and
the companies that take the lead will capture the greatest benefits."
This approach, espoused by Amedeo Caporaletti, has certainly borne
fruit for AgustaWestland. The merged company became fully operational
on February 12, following the initial agreement between the two
of July 26, 2000. The combined revenues of Agusta and Westland
in 2000 were more than $2.3 billion, and its defense and civil
helicopter order book stands at more than $7 billion. AgustaWestland
is gearing up to capitalize on 18 years of cooperation and 50
years of combined industrial experience, to increase its market
share and bring product enhancements on line.
Agusta has transatlantic connections in the form of Bell/Agusta
Aerospace Corp, builders of the AB 139 and the BA 609. The BA
609 tiltrotor is potentially the most revolutionary of any civil
rotorcraft program in the world today. Caporaletti says progress
is steady. "Final assembly of the first four BA 609s continues
at our Arlington, Texas, facility. The wing and fuselage for the
first prototype were mated at the end of November 2000. The first
flight is scheduled for later this year, with certification planned
for 2003 and deliveries to follow. BAAC has more than 80 orders
for the BA 609, and more than 40 for the AB 139."
Caporaletti sees a strong market for his advanced technology products
in the United States. "As you know, the U.S. Coast Guard
has recently selected the A109 Power, and both AgustaWestland
and BAAC are actively pursuing the emerging requirements of the
U.S. armed forces. Last month we ran a second EH101 demonstration
tour in the U.S. A production-standard RAF Merlin Mk 3 visited
Washington DC to offer Congressional members and military staff
the chance to get close look at it. Discussions with a U.S. partner
for the EH101 program are now underway."
Also in the military sphere, AgustaWestland has begun deliveries
of the final batch of 15 A129 Mangusta attack helicopters to the
Italian army. These enhanced aircraft are in the multi-role combat
configuration with a new 20-mm cannon and improved five-bladed
main rotor. Caporaletti is hopeful that Italy's exiting force
of 45 Mangustas will be upgraded to the same standard. This version
of the Mangusta also forms the basis for export variants, including
the A129 Scorpion currently on offer to Australia.
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