Italy has begun acquiring its first AW249 Fenice (Phoenix) attack helicopters from Leonardo as part of efforts to upgrade the army’s rotary-wing fleet. Initially announced in 2017, the modernization program will eventually replace the aging Agusta A129 Mangusta helicopters that have been in service since the 1990s. The first phase of the program involves the delivery of 17 helicopters, expected to begin in 2027, from a total planned fleet of up to 48 units.
