Overview
- The companies unveiled their partnership at AUSA, proposing a contractor-owned, contractor-operated turnkey training system built around Leonardo’s AW119T single‑engine helicopter.
- The offering bundles airframes, parts, maintenance, instructors, simulators, and a validated curriculum, plus automated logistics and adaptive training calendars to maximize aircraft use.
- Army leaders have issued a draft request for proposals and have not made an award, with Maj. Gen. Clair Gill outlining a timeline that moves to selection next year and initial implementation in FY27.
- Leonardo reports the AW119T has surpassed 100,000 flight hours, including over 16,000 IFR hours and more than 40,000 touchdown autorotations, with 130 aircraft sustained for the U.S. Navy near Fort Rucker and support infrastructure in Florida.
- Boeing cites long-standing Army aviation ties through the AH‑64 Apache and CH‑47 Chinook and its global training, simulation, and program‑management experience, aligning with studies that favor single‑engine trainers and COCO models for cost and proficiency gains.