Senior Editor

Jerry Siebenmark

Leonardo has completed its acquisition of upstart Swiss helicopter manufacturer Kopter Group AG, the Italy-based OEM announced on April 8. Under terms of the acquisition, Leonardo acquires 100 percent of the Wetzikon, Switzerland-based company from investment firm Lynwood.

 


In return, Leonardo pays $185 million for Kopter, as well as bonuses to Lynwood if certain milestones are met over the life of Kopter’s SH09 turbine single-engine program. Cyprus-based Lynwood, controlled by Russian oligarch Alexander Mamut, invested $270 million into Kopter Group in 2016.

 


The SH09 is Kopter’s first and only offering, which is undergoing concurrent certification with the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The $3.5 million SH09 features a digital avionics suite with the capability to integrate a four-axis autopilot and allow IFR operations approval. Power comes from a single 1,020-shp Honeywell HTS900. The helicopter will have a projected maximum cruise speed of 140 knots and a range of 430 nm.

 


“The acquisition of Kopter allows Leonardo to further strengthen its worldwide leadership and position in the rotorcraft sector, in line with the industrial plan’s objectives for the reinforcement of the core businesses,” Leonardo said in a short statement about the closing of the acquisition. The deal was first announced on January 28 during Heli-Expo 2020 in Anaheim, California.

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