
AgustaWestland
A former Italian-British helicopter manufacturer whose operations were integrated into Leonardo Helicopters.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
AgustaWestland was an Italian-British helicopter manufacturer formed in 2000 through the combination of the helicopter businesses of Agusta and Westland. It served military, government, corporate and civil customers, with products spanning light, medium and heavy helicopters and involvement in multinational aerospace programmes. Notable aircraft associated with the company include the AW101, AW139, AW169, AW189 and AW109 families. The company was controlled for much of its existence by Italy’s Finmeccanica and became a major part of the group’s aerospace and defence activities. In 2016, Finmeccanica completed a corporate and brand integration, and AgustaWestland ceased operating as a standalone company. Its helicopter activities became part of Leonardo Helicopters, while several aircraft continued to use the AW model designations.
History
AgustaWestland originated from the helicopter activities of Italy’s Agusta and the United Kingdom’s Westland. In 2000, the two businesses were combined to create AgustaWestland, an Italian-British helicopter manufacturer. The company developed activities across military aviation, public services, offshore transport, search and rescue, corporate transport and civil aviation. Its portfolio covered several weight classes through aircraft such as the AW101, AW139, AW169 and AW189, alongside earlier Agusta and Westland-derived products. AgustaWestland became an important aerospace business within Italy’s Finmeccanica group. In 2016, Finmeccanica implemented a group-wide reorganization and adopted the Leonardo name, integrating AgustaWestland into Leonardo Helicopters. The AgustaWestland company and standalone brand were consequently discontinued, although several helicopter types and related support activities continued under Leonardo.
- 2016
Absorbed into Leonardo Helicopters
[2]Parent company Finmeccanica carried out a unified branding and organizational integration; AgustaWestland ceased to operate as an independent company, and its helicopter business was absorbed into Leonardo Helicopters.
- 2000
Merger of Agusta and Westland helicopter businesses
[1]The helicopter businesses of Italy's Agusta and Britain's Westland merged to form AgustaWestland.
Products and positioning
A comprehensive helicopter manufacturer serving military, government, public-service, corporate-transport and civil markets, with an emphasis on multi-role platforms, mission adaptability and aerospace and defence systems capabilities.
AW101
The AW101 is a heavy multi-role helicopter developed through an Anglo-Italian programme involving AgustaWestland. It has been used for military, offshore, search-and-rescue and government missions, representing the company’s capability in large rotorcraft and systems integration.
AW139
The AW139 is a medium twin-engine multi-role helicopter for commercial, governmental, public-service and military customers. Typical missions include passenger transport, search and rescue, law enforcement and emergency medical services.
AW169
The AW169 is a light-to-medium twin-engine helicopter designed for civil, government and public-service operations, including corporate transport, emergency medical services, law enforcement and utility missions.
AW189
The AW189 is a large civil multi-role helicopter aimed at offshore energy, search and rescue, public-service and transport missions. It was positioned for long-range and higher-payload operations and complemented the AW139 and AW169 families.
AW109
The AW109 family originated from Agusta’s light twin-engine helicopter line and has served corporate transport, emergency medical, law-enforcement and utility roles. It remained an important light-helicopter family associated with AgustaWestland.
Brand decisions
2016
Bringing the helicopter business under the unified Leonardo brandStrategyBackground
Finmeccanica pushed ahead with group-wide organizational and brand consolidation, ending the model in which several of its business brands operated with relative independence.
Action taken
AgustaWestland's helicopter business was integrated as Leonardo Helicopters.
Aftermath
AgustaWestland ceased to operate as an independent company and group brand; its related models and business continued under Leonardo.
Sources3 sources
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