The Italian Navy has supported the sea trials of Leonardo’s AW609, a tiltrotor aircraft designed to facilitate transport operations between aircraft carriers and the mainland.
Developed by Leonardo, the AW609 offers a hybrid capability that combines the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) feature of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.
The development of the AW609 began in the early 2000s as a joint project between the American manufacturer Bell Helicopter and the Italian company Agusta, which later became part of Leonardo.
Featuring tiltrotors, the AW609 can take off and land vertically while carrying up to 9 passengers or 2.5 tonnes of cargo, with a top speed of 509 km/h and a range of up to 1852 km.
