Preening the Cormorant

Leonardo, the once-American now Italian defense contractor, was awarded a $737-million ($1-billion CAN) contract to perform mid-life upgrades on 13 AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant Search And Rescue (SAR) helicopters in service with Canada’s Department of National Defense.

The deal will also see three further aircraft added to the department’s fleet.

The undertaking, dubbed the Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU) Project, sets out to enhance the aircrafts’ systems and technologies, ensure compliance with emerging airspace requirements, extend the fleet’s life-expectancy beyond 20042, and enable the return of Cormorant helicopters to Ontario’s Main Operating Base (MOB) Trenton (YTR). The CMLU Project entails state-of-the-art avionics, a new glass cockpit, more powerful digitally-controlled engines, wireless in-cabin communications, and the latest SAR sensors—to include Electro Optical Infra-Red devices and Mobile Phone Detection Location Systems.

Leonardo will be supported in the undertaking by its principal Canadian subcontractor, IMP Aerospace and Defense, together with General Electric Canada, and Collins Aerospace Canada. The majority of the work will be performed in the great white north—primarily at IMP’s facilities Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo remarked: “Leonardo is proud to lead with our Team Cormorant partners the AW101/CH-149 ‘Cormorant Search’ and Rescue helicopter fleet upgrade as announced by the Canadian Government. With the Cormorant helicopter, the Government is getting the right equipment for the Canadian Forces, at the best price for Canadians, with the right benefits for Canadian industry.”

Leonardo managing director helicopters Gian Piero Cutillo added: “The AW101/CH-149 ‘Cormorant’ Search and Rescue helicopter fleet will provide the Royal Canadian Air Force with the sustainment of a robust, high-tech, all-weather SAR capability across Canada. The CMLU program through Team Cormorant will reduce the cost of fleet ownership while further increasing reliability, capability, and safety for Canadian people.”

The AW101 is among the world’s most advanced medium lift helicopters. The machine offers government, military, and private operators large-capacity, long-range, advanced-technology, and cost effectiveness over missions the likes of SAR, combat SAR, personnel recovery, special forces operations, utility, troop transport, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, airborne early warning, and mine sweeping. The global fleet of AW101 helicopters numbers some 220 aircraft, and has amassed north of half-a-million flight-hours in operations from the Arctic, to the Antarctic, and all points between.

FMI: helicopters.leonardo.com