Pakistan signs helicopter contract with Italian aerospace giant

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has signed a contract for an undisclosed number of AgustaWestland AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters with Italian multinational aerospace company Leonardo-Finmeccanica.

The contract was signed here in presence of the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo, said a statement published on the company's website.

The AW139 choppers, which cost over $10 million each, will be used for search and rescue operations in the country.

The agreement is part of a fleet renewal programme spread over several stages, and includes a logistics support and training package.

The new fleet of helicopters, which is set to be delivered in 2017, is expected to be used for tasks such as civil protection, transport and search and rescue operations.

The latest contract marks a significant achievement for Leonardo-Finmeccanica in Pakistan, further expanding its already successful presence in the country. A total of 11 AW139s are already in service in Pakistan, with five aircraft operated for civil protection and transport tasks.

Leonardo-Finmeccanica is the ninth-largest defence contractor in the world based on applicable 2014 revenues.

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indian

May 26, 2016 01:09pm

Sonia Gandhi and her party made billions in kickbacks in India under augusta deal for helicopters, Augustawestland is corrupt company, seeing her success Pakistani politicians want to do the same and pocket maximum cash.

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Zaman Shah

May 26, 2016 01:22pm

Pakistan should sign transfer of technology or joint development with innovation.

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pakistani love

May 26, 2016 01:33pm

Engaged in racing for arms will not be good for both countries instead of it race on development which will be benefit for both of us that is india and Pakistan

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Hitesh

May 26, 2016 01:39pm

Congratulations Pakistan. India has blacklisted Finmeccanica for alleged corruption in a chopper deal during the UPA govt.

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Muhammad Usman

May 26, 2016 01:41pm

No news about Russian helicopters? Mi-17 is better in performance than these Italian planes.

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 01:42pm

...and surprisingly no customary complaints from one neighbouring country?

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Catalyst

May 26, 2016 01:46pm

Fantastic news. Congratulations to all those who made this deal possible.

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Mighty Somu

May 26, 2016 01:47pm

It's the same company that paid kickbacks to Indian politicians for getting contract for helicopters. Wonder which pakistani politician got kickbacks this time?

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Commentator1

May 26, 2016 01:52pm

@Zaman Shah But do we have enough funds to buy the technology?

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AWADH

May 26, 2016 02:01pm

Is this the same Augasta westland which has been black listed by India on bribery case?

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Citizen

May 26, 2016 02:02pm

the same company was blocked by India for corruption

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سے Shaam (Hanafi)

May 26, 2016 02:04pm

AgustaWestland...hmm this company is banned by your neighbor, known greatly for "kickbacks".

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abdullah

May 26, 2016 02:08pm

So billions going waste.we need achools.can italians come and make schools and universities please.that will be better.

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AHA

May 26, 2016 02:13pm

No wonder why Pakistan is selected Augusta. Augusta is one of most corrupt company on earth. Just read on the judgement given a month ago on same deal with India. Indian National Congress (I) is in big trouble due to kick back in the deal. Choppers are good for nothing.

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Hari

May 26, 2016 02:14pm

This is the same firm which has been black listed by India on bribery charges.

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Vin

May 26, 2016 02:28pm

I think this is better and practical choice in fighting terror than F16. But it should be a transparent deal as there is already a shady deal between italy and india with major bribes paid.

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May 26, 2016 02:30pm

They do not have money for F -16 , yet they found money for choppers?

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KumarKhan

May 26, 2016 02:43pm

Game changer

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Lucifer

May 26, 2016 03:09pm

Pakistan needs to come strong out of storm. Instead of buying, priority should be based on making. i hope it wouldn't be challenging like a nuke, if Pakistan ever place it priority than seeking a shortcut.

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Ahmar Qureshi

May 26, 2016 03:10pm

Let's Hover Above! :-)

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 03:16pm

@Mighty Somu - We wouldn't know who got kickbacks. The kickbacks will go straight in Panama accounts.

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Light tunnel

May 26, 2016 03:18pm

Not sure about Helicopters, but this company is proven ..for corruption

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Anuj

May 26, 2016 03:23pm

@Harmony-1© you mean like when ISRO or DRDO does something our neighbors say 'India should tackle poverty first', like that?

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Anand

May 26, 2016 03:30pm

This companies owner is in jail in Italy for corruption..

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 03:33pm

@Light tunnel - This company giving kickback is not the issue, the ones taking is the real issue. In a competitive market, all such big companies routinely offer something under the table to win business.

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Sohaib

May 26, 2016 03:35pm

Good...have different options available and total reduce the reliance on so called friends such as US. Also built in house as well.

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 03:40pm

@Anuj - Humm...poverty may be (as it is a issue). But FYI on your ISRO or DRDO achievement many congratulated (me included).

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Wah

May 26, 2016 03:45pm

Huge scam (kickbacks) is surfaced in India while dealing with AgustaWestland. Even Italian court has sentenced few of their nationals for giving bribes during the deal... If nothing else, corruption is common between Ind & Pak. You have been warned.

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 03:46pm

@Anuj - Humm...poverty may be (as it is an issue) and if I am not wrong there was just one such comment, didn’t get bombarded like we get. But FYI on your ISRO or DRDO achievement many congratulated (me included).

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A. Khan

May 26, 2016 03:57pm

These will be used as personal transports by the VIPs.

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k2aaa

May 26, 2016 04:13pm

India has backlisted this company and cancelled all pending orders with them as this Italian company was involved in bribing Politicians, Bureaucrats and even Defence personnel for winning Indian defence contracts. Pakistani Political & defence leadership is minting money through this deal, nothing else.

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Harish

May 26, 2016 04:24pm

@Zaman Shah and italian will transfer the techonology just for few helicopters which pak will buy?

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Siddhartha

May 26, 2016 04:27pm

we have blacklisted this for a purpose. someone has seen this and hence inviting them.

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Tamil Guru

May 26, 2016 04:31pm

The Augusta Westland company has been black listed by many countries including India for corrupt practices such as bribing officials etc. A few of their management are already in Italian jails. Do the officials in Pakistan not know of these facts?, or maybe it just suits them fine.

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Ahmed

May 26, 2016 04:31pm

Who is going to fly these helicopters for Search and Rescue operations? Is it the Army, Airforce or Navy. If it's the civilian government then obviously they will be flying cooks and waiters between Raiwand and Murree or rescuing the elite from Panama Waters when it's flooding the National Assembly.

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Siddhartha saxena

May 26, 2016 04:37pm

Indian airforce initially rejected this for not meeting its standards and then you know the rest.

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ishrat Salim

May 26, 2016 04:41pm

Any company that is blacklisted anywhere in any country for any shady deal or performance is welcome in Pakistan bcz we are a corrupt nation.

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M.Saeed

May 26, 2016 05:46pm

At $ 21 million a piece, it is highly expensive machine. Drones are much better and cheaper.

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Ahsan

May 26, 2016 06:06pm

Leanardo is also manufacturer of fighter aircraft advance radars like Vinex 1000E, CAPTOR-E AESA radar for euro fighter, Raven ES-05 for Gripen Next gen. Very soon we will find one of these in our JF-17 which is equally good what indian's will be having in Rafael aircraft. Thats why we r going ahead with them. its business as well as national interest.

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singh

May 26, 2016 06:09pm

@Harmony-1© so it is free or a gift to Pakistan.

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singh

May 26, 2016 06:13pm

you are free to buy anything.. your money, your wish...

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Ac,countability

May 26, 2016 07:24pm

Ok to buy few items. But its better to buy technology to build such machine within Pakistan and create local jobs.

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Harmony-1©

May 26, 2016 07:32pm

@Singh - Jealous? "free or gift" is for the loved ones!

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mohammed Aziz

May 26, 2016 07:56pm

So much money wasted..... In reality, money has been made by politicians...

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Mahendra Singh

May 26, 2016 08:02pm

Well the same company's contract was cancelled in India by PM Modi as they offered bribe to previous government, n

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Simply Human

May 26, 2016 09:04pm

@Harmony-1© Agreed. ..so is this charity by Italian??

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Sami Shahid

May 26, 2016 11:33pm

Very nice decision....these choppers will help a lot.....they are very suitable for Siachen , border with Afghanistan and operations in flood or earth quake.

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Harmony-1©

May 27, 2016 12:16am

@Simply Human - The amount of "charity" from donors towards your nation is far bigger, don't forget.

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Pakistani

May 27, 2016 12:17am

First off, many congrats to Pakistan as this helicopter is the most successful and widely sold in its class around the world, including USA, Europe and the ME. Now let me correct my Indian visitors here. Yes the company's head was sent behind bars a few years back due to kickbacks that also involved top Indian officials and politicians. However, importantly, the company has more than recovered- to become one of the top 3 helicopter manufactures and sellers worldwide. They make great machines. Very well done Pakistan. Logistics and training included, it's a great package. Regards.

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Kepler-8B

May 27, 2016 02:12am

"Civil protection, transport and search and rescue operations". More likely to provide free transportation to VVIP.

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Befree

May 27, 2016 07:25am

This is a VVIP transport helicopter and is famous for giving kickbacks. Initially it was rejected by Indian Airforce coz it's bad in high altitude areas.. Later all is a epic of corruption saga. From Gandhi family to the office boy every one was involved.

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Indian

May 27, 2016 04:19pm

@Sami Shahid India rejected these helicopter because they don't fly high enough and later on an invisible hand approved the acquisition...I take it that people in Pakistan are aware of the scam which got exposed by the Italian court!!!

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Pakistani

May 27, 2016 05:36pm

To the Indian visitors here, India did NOT reject the same helicopters. This is the newer AW139. It can fly above 20,000 ft,. However, that ceiling was the requirement in India's case and not Pakistan's. The AW139 is a state of the art machine equipped with the latest avionics. For reasons why India rejected the heli, please read Mr Parrikar's statement against the Congress. Also Pakistan already has an older version which was also used by Mr Modi during his visit. The newer one is a sea and all terrain capable, search and rescue machine most likely for PAF. Regards.

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Raja Khalid

May 27, 2016 09:06pm

@Muhammad Usman This one is for search and rescue operation. MI has different purpose.

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Truth prevails

May 27, 2016 10:09pm

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Zak

May 28, 2016 12:15am

@Hitesh in india corrupt civilian politicians are involved in purchase, in pakistan the army is involved, so no corruption as their procedures are stringent.

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Zak

May 28, 2016 12:17am

US is loing out now. Pakistan will take the helicopters and its technology.

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