Rotorcraft
Leonardo Pitches TH-119 for Navy Trainer
The helicopter would be made in Philadelphia.

Bouyed by its recent win with Boeing to provide 84 MH-139 medium twin helicopters to the U.S. Air Force, Leonardo is hoping to ride that success as it pitches a modified AW119 single to the U.S. Navy as a replacement for that service’s aging fleet of Bell TH-57 training helicopters that date back to 1985. The Navy is expected to issue a formal request for proposal (RFP) to replace its existing training fleet early next year, and Leonardo and Airbus Helicopters (which is proposing its H135 light twin) are already locked in a spirited public relations competition for the deal for anywhere from 100 to 130 helicopters that are expected to be delivered over the course of three to five years.