Italy has its heart in the right place, but it is likely buying a pre-failed helicopter system.
“The Italians have a phrase, Lemon,” said Jack Donaghy with his typical air of superiority. “‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’ And though they’ve never won a war, or mass produced a decent car, in this area, they are correct.”
While those words were spoken in an early episode of the hit 2010 comedy series 30 Rock, the joke is doubly funny to anyone who understands Italian engineering—and how sloppy it can be.
Yes, of course Italy has Ferrari and Lamborghini. But these are the exceptions that prove the rule. Which is why it is so odd that the Europeans, as the transatlantic divorce becomes more solid, are insistent that Italian defense firms take a greater lead in developing an indigenous, high-tech European military.
Still, the Italians are persisting.
Understanding the Leonardo AW-249 Fenice Helicopter
Take, for example, the Leonardo AW-249 Fenice, aptly named “Phoenix” in Italian. This helicopter is designed to replace the aging Agusta A129 Mangusta, which has served since the 1990s. Unveiled as a prototype in 2017, with its first flight on August 12, 2022, the Fenice aims to deliver a modern, versatile attack helicopter capable of meeting the demands of contemporary multi-domain operations.
As of 2025, the AW-249 program is advancing steadily, with testing underway and initial deliveries scheduled for 2027. But is this the right helicopter for Europe and can the Italians even mass produce these helos in a reliable timeframe?
Probably not.
The Fenice is a wholly new design, yet it leverages mature technologies to balance innovation with reliability. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 18,300 pounds—nearly double that of the A129. The Fenice also boasts a significantly enhanced weapons carrying capacity of 6,173 pounds. That’s a 91 percent increase over the Mangusta.
Powered by two General Electric CT7-8E6 turboshaft engines, each delivering 2,503 shaft horsepower at takeoff, the helicopter has a substantial power-to-weight ratio that enables a top speed of approximately 180 miles per hour, as well as a range of 466 miles.
The Fenice’s design emphasizes survivability and adaptability. Its airframe incorporates low-observability features, such as a reduced radar cross-section and infrared signature suppression via integrated exhaust suppressors, though it is not a truly stealth platform. An advanced Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS), including radar receivers (ELT/162), directed infrared countermeasures (ELT/577 QUIRIS), and ballistic-tolerant fuel tanks—along with armored seats for the crew—are all in this helo.
The system also supports crewed-uncrewed learning (C-UCT), allowing the Fenice to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a capability that aligns with modern networked warfare.
Its primary armament includes the Melara TM197B, a 20mm three-barreled Gatling gun mounted in a chin turret, which has been tested since late 2023. The helicopter’s four underwing hardpoints can carry a flexible array of munitions, including 70mm guided and unguided rockets, like the FZ231 and FZ275 from Thales Belgium.
This helicopter can also carry Rafael Spike anti-tank guided missiles, and infrared-guided air-to-air missiles like the AIM-92 Stinger or AIM-9 Sidewinder. This versatility doubles the munitions capacity of the A129, enhancing its lethality across many variegated mission sets.
Is The Fenice Even Practical?
Thus far, the Italian Army plans to order 48 units of the copter, phasing out the Mangusta helicopters beginning in 2027—with initial deliveries being made to the Army Aviation Training Centre in Viterbo.
Leonardo dreams of this helicopter having immense export potential, too. Priced competitively against platforms like the Boeing AH-64 Apache, the Fenice’s estimated cost is around $30-$40 million—significantly cheaper than the Apache. Both Algeria and Hungary have been mentioned as potential early customers.
But even though these helicopters are cheaper than their American equivalents, the chances that the European defense industrial base will be able to meet the demand for these helicopters in a timely and efficient manner is very low. The program’s timeline, for example, has already slipped from its initial 2020 first test-flight target. Technical challenges have plagued this helicopter’s development as well.
More generally, there is a growing skepticism about the need to spend any significant amount of money on manned helicopters. This is a fair concern, considering how drones have completely reshaped the modern battlefield. That’s to say nothing of the increasingly advanced air defense systems of countries such as Russia that the helicopter may find itself fighting.
And let’s not forget the overarching problem of Italy’s weak economy and its demonstrated ambivalence toward its NATO commitments, irrespective of what Italian leaders say in public.
Italy has its heart in the right place, but it is likely buying a pre-failed helicopter system. Even if everything goes exactly as Rome plans, the fact remains that the Italian defense industrial base is utterly broken. There will be immense struggles to produce even a handful of the helicopters. Beyond that, there must be a serious discussion as to whether manned helicopter systems are even practical anymore. Until these conversations are had, and these questions are answered, Italy should not be wasting its money on the Fenice helicopter.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Djohan Shahrin.