The Phoenix: Leonardo's high-tech successor to the Agusta Mangusta

Wars & Conflicts · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Italian Army is preparing for a new era of aerial warfare. The AW249 Fenice aims to replace the aging A129 Mangusta with a stealthier, more autonomous platform. Equipped to control unmanned drones and sporting a massive increase in weaponry, this helicopter is designed to dominate the modern battlefield.

The AW249 Fenice, or Phoenix, is an advanced attack helicopter currently under development by the Italian firm Leonardo. It was formally initiated following a €487 million contract from the Italian Army to replace the Agusta A129 Mangusta, a type that has been in service since 1990. While 59 Mangustas were originally inducted into the Italian Army, by 2018, only 32 remained operational. The new Fenice is intended to be larger, more survivable, and more autonomous than its predecessor, featuring stealth technologies to reduce its radar cross-section and infrared signature.

Technologically, the AW249 is a significant leap forward. It is designed with an open architecture to allow easy integration of various mission systems and is capable of remotely operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The helicopter will utilize mature technologies, including the OTO Melara TM197B 20 mm chin-mounted cannon and the Rafael Toplite targeting system. To power the aircraft, the Italian Army selected General Electric to supply T700 engines, specifically the CT7-8E6 turboshaft, which provides a maximum take-off power of 2,503 shp.

The project's scale is immense, with total costs estimated at €2.7 billion. The Italian Parliament has approved the purchase of 48 AW249 helicopters. The deployment plan involves an initial operational capability (IOC) phase, with 7 and 12 units ordered in IOC configurations, followed by a planned order of 29 helicopters in a final operational capacity (FOC) variant during 2025–2026. This transition is intended to allow the Mangusta to be withdrawn from service starting in 2025.

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