Leonardo announced that Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment (Sino-US) of China has signed contracts for additional 26 helicopters, including 7 AW119Kx single engine, 15 AW109 Trekker light twins and 4 AW139 intermediate twins with deliveries expected to start this year through to 2019.
The contracts are valued in excess of 120 million euro.
The orders follow a series of contracts, particularly for EMS helicopters, signed by Sino-US in recent years which include 25 AW119Kx single engines and a mix of 30 AW139s and AW169s in 2016, followed by 10 AW109 Trekkers in 2017.
These latest orders strengthen the collaboration between Leonardo Helicopter and Sino-US in China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
The presence of Leonardo in China grows stronger with more than 200 helicopters sold to Chinese customers of various types to date for a range of both commercial and public services while maintaining its leading role in the EMS market.
Leonardo has set a new yearly delivery record in the Chinese market with 30 units in 2017. With further deliveries planned in the next couple of years, Chinese civil operator Kingwing would become one of the largest for Leonardo helicopters worldwide.