The Ministry of Defense this week signed the contract to purchase 18 Italian multi-purpose helicopters of the type "Leonardo AW169M". 

The new helicopters are intended to replace the light liaison and transport helicopters “Alouette III”, which will be withdrawn in 2023. After a training phase, the helicopters will be operational from 2023 and can be used, among other things, for the transport of people and materials as well as fire fighting. They have numerous capabilities that make use day and night as well as in bad weather conditions possible, including systems for avoiding obstacles or a weather radar.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner recalled the fire extinguishing operation in Hirschwang an der Rax: “This disaster operation showed once again how important the use of our helicopters and pilots is. The procurement of the helicopters is one of the largest since the Eurofighter and is very important for the operational readiness and safety of the population. "