The AW249 (designated AH-249A NEES - Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scorta – known as the ‘Fenice’) is the only Western clean-sheet combat helicopter design, in development to meet stringent emerging operational requirements for the next 30+ years. It leverages capabilities and technologies not available elsewhere today, uniquely and ideally bridging a further gradual evolution of military vertical lift. 

To manage a rapidly evolving scenario, the AW249 features a complete open architecture with significant further growth and system/capability adaptation to respond to the demanding market requirements. In addition to high performance (speed, range, power margin and payload, Hot & High conditions, maneuverability for unmatched nap-of-the-earth flight), core to the AW249 is its ability to be fully integrated and interoperable in the modern multi-domain battlefield (air-land-sea-space-cyber). AW249 is interoperable with all air and ground assets. It is net-centric within a digital network where single cooperating assets share their own tactical information (voice, data, video), resulting the ability to prosecute joint and complex operational scenarios. Being net-centric is thus vital for coordinated action in demanding environments. Assets involved range from command centers, to UAVs or other aircraft and satellites. Importantly it includes ground troops and their vehicles. The AW249 incorporates advanced “net-centric” capabilities such as COMSEC and TRANSEC communications either LOS or BLOS, trough SDR radios, New Generation IFF Tactical Data Link 16, Wide Band Datalink LOS and LTE gateway.