The Austrian Armed Forces took delivery of the first multi-purpose Leonardo AW169 helicopter and stationed it at the Brumowski air base in Langenlebarn. The formal handover took place on Wednesday in the presence of Lower Austria's governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (both ÖVP).

The new additions ordered in Italy are to gradually replace the aging Alluette III. From Mikl-Leitner's point of view, the government would "invest a lot of money in the modernization of the army". At the same time, she emphasized that this would also secure jobs. As an example, she also cited the planned new barracks in Mistelbach.

"When the most important representatives of Austrian and Italian defense policy and the military meet here today, then there is a very historic moment to celebrate here in the truest sense of the word. Today the handover of this first helicopter takes place and thus a new era is heralded for the army, for our air force, for the military base in Lower Austria and the 700 employees here in Langenlebarn," said Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner is convinced that the right helicopter was chosen with the AW169. She announced that the option to buy "36 much-needed utility helicopters" had been pulled. "We want to make our army more modern and operational, and thus effectively meet the future challenges of the 21st century," says Tanner, who also admitted that investments in the military have not materialized for many years.

This cooperation was manifested with the signing of the "Declaration of Intent" by the two defense ministers and the signing of the contract amendment for the purchase of additional helicopters. In addition, Chief of Staff Rudolf Striedinger and Reinhard Kraft, Commander of the Aviation and Air Defense Forces School, had their say.