Bosnia and Herzegovina to replace aging Russian Mi-8 fleet with Italian Leonardo AW119Kx utility helicopters.

On May 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Leonardo AW119Kx helicopters and associated equipment and services, with an estimated total value of $100 million. While the exact number of helicopters requested is not specified in the official notification, the acquisition request includes a complete support and training package and aims to enhance the operational capacity of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH). The principal contractor is Leonardo Helicopters U.S., specifically through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation in Pennsylvania. No offset agreement has been proposed to date, but any future offset arrangements would be subject to direct negotiation between the buyer and the contractor.
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The AW119Kx helicopters will improve Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity to operate in mountainous and inaccessible terrain and to increase readiness in humanitarian missions such as disaster relief, search and rescue, and other non-combat operations. (Picture source: Leonardo)

The request covers multiple categories of equipment and services. In addition to the AW119Kx helicopters, the package includes qualification and transition training for pilots and maintainers, in-country contractor field service representative support, program management reviews, technical assistance, aviation ground support equipment, platform-specific ground support systems, hardware, special tools, test equipment, and basic issue items. It also includes quality assurance inspections, inventory processes, ground run and flight test validation and verification testing, air freight transportation for delivery, initial spares and consumable parts, operator maintenance resources, and technical manuals. The U.S. government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services are included in the implementation phase. The deployment of up to five U.S. government personnel and up to seven contractor representatives to Bosnia and Herzegovina is planned for up to five years to provide operational and training support.

According to the DSCA, the helicopters will support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ability to respond to current and future threats by enhancing interoperability with NATO and regional partners. The AW119Kx platforms are also intended to improve the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH)’s capacity for operating in mountainous and inaccessible terrain and to increase readiness in humanitarian missions such as disaster relief, search and rescue, and other non-combat operations. The helicopters are additionally expected to be used for pilot training within the AFBiH structure.

Currently, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) helicopter fleet consists of legacy aircraft, including Soviet- and U.S.-origin helicopters. These include four Mi-8MTV and eight Mi-8 Hip helicopters of Russian origin, a single Mi-17, and multiple U.S.-supplied Bell UH-1H and Huey II variants, several of which were donated under U.S. security assistance programs. The Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters were reportedly upgraded in Ukraine to meet NATO compatibility standards. Additional rotary-wing assets include older Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters and one Mil Mi-34, which is no longer in use. Many of these platforms are used for MEDEVAC, fire-fighting, or utility roles. The aging status of these helicopters and limitations in modernization capacity have prompted efforts to replace or supplement them with newer platforms such as the AW119Kx.

Operators of the AW119 series, including the AW119Kx, include the Finnish Border Guard, Portuguese Air Force, Turkish Land Forces, Israeli Air Force, South Korea's National Police Agency, and multiple U.S. police departments. (Picture source: Leonardo)

This potential acquisition also follows Bosnia and Herzegovina’s broader plans to modernize its defense capabilities. The country has previously received donations of equipment, such as side winches for UH-1 helicopters from Germany, and is progressing with procurement plans, including unmanned aerial systems like the Bayraktar TB2. By procuring AW119Kx helicopters with extensive training and support packages under the FMS framework, Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to advance its defense modernization objectives, improve interoperability with NATO, and enhance its ability to fulfill both military and civil protection missions. The proposed deal, once finalized, would contribute to building a more capable and self-sustaining rotary-wing force within the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The AW119Kx is currently used by multiple military and government agencies globally, including the U.S. Navy, which selected the helicopter as its next-generation trainer under the designation TH-73A. The U.S. Navy ordered 68 units, with a procurement plan allowing for up to 130 helicopters. Deliveries of the TH-73A began in 2021. Other operators of the AW119 series include the Finnish Border Guard, Portuguese Air Force, Turkish Land Forces, Israeli Air Force, South Korea's National Police Agency, and multiple U.S. police departments. In Latin America, it is used by Argentina’s National Gendarmerie, Brazil’s Federal Highway Police, and several Brazilian state authorities. In Africa and Asia, it serves in Algeria, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republika Srpska Helicopter Service already operates the AW119, making the AFBiH’s upcoming acquisition a separate integration under national command.

The AW119 helicopter was developed by Agusta in the 1990s as a single-engine alternative to the twin-engine AW109, aiming to offer lower operating costs while maintaining component commonality. Originally named the A119 Koala, the first prototype was used for static testing, while the second made its first flight in February 1995. The aircraft was initially equipped with the Turboméca Arriel 2K1 engine, but this was replaced with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A to improve performance and meet user expectations. Civil certification from the Italian RAI was achieved in December 1999, followed by U.S. FAA certification in February 2000. The first operational delivery was to the Australian company Linfox. In 2007, the AW119Ke variant was introduced, featuring rotor design changes and higher rotor speed. Fuselages were produced by PZL-Świdnik in Poland, while final assembly moved from Vergiate, Italy, to Philadelphia, USA. A joint venture with Tata, Indian Rotorcraft, was established in 2010 for future assembly in India, although local production has faced delays due to regulatory decisions and political concerns.

Hovering capabilities of the Leonardo AW119Kx helicopter include 3,353 meters in ground effect (HIGE) and 2,225 meters out of ground effect (HOGE). (Picture source: Leonardo)

The AW119 incorporates a four-blade fully articulated main rotor with composite blades and tip caps designed to reduce noise, and elastomeric bearings that do not require lubrication. The airframe is built with aluminum alloy honeycomb panels to absorb noise and vibration, eliminating the need for additional suppression systems. The helicopter uses a fixed skid landing gear configuration instead of retractable wheels. The aircraft's fuselage follows a cocoon-type structure for structural reinforcement. The AW119 retains several safety and performance characteristics typically found in twin-engine helicopters, including system redundancy for hydraulics and flight stability systems, as well as a transmission rated for 30 minutes of dry-run operation. The cockpit and cabin are based on the AW109 layout and support rapid reconfiguration. The AW119 can be adapted for utility, EMS, firefighting, training, and law enforcement missions through modular layouts and optional equipment.

The AW119Kx variant adds a digital avionics suite, offering two configurations: the Garmin G1000NXi for VFR and the Genesys Aerosystems suite for IFR operations. Both include Synthetic Vision System (SVS), Highway in the Sky (HITS) symbology, moving map displays, and Helicopter Terrain Awareness Warning System (HTAWS) with a worldwide terrain and obstacle database. The aircraft supports configurations for different mission types including EMS with one or two stretchers and associated attendants, cargo operations, search and rescue, troop transport, and utility roles. It is equipped with a 204 kg external hoist, dual cargo hooks, mission consoles, rappelling kits, a fire-fighting belly tank, searchlights, reinforced windshields, loudspeakers, emergency floats, engine inlet barrier filters, and EO/IR cameras. The cockpit can be isolated from the cabin to enable focused operations. The cabin volume is 3.45 m³ and the baggage compartment adds 0.95 m³, supporting variable internal layouts.

The AW119Kx uses a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A engine generating 917 shp. The aircraft’s maximum gross weight is 2,850 kg for internal loads and 3,150 kg for external loads. It has a rotor diameter of 10.83 meters, an overall length with rotors turning of 12.92 meters, and a height of 3.60 meters. The AW119Kx achieves a maximum cruise speed of 243 km/h and a never-exceed speed of 282 km/h. Its range reaches up to 945 km with auxiliary fuel tanks, and it has a maximum endurance of 5 hours and 16 minutes under standard conditions without reserve. Hovering capabilities include 3,353 meters in ground effect (HIGE) and 2,225 meters out of ground effect (HOGE). The helicopter can carry one to two crew members and up to six or seven passengers depending on configuration. Its fuel system can be expanded from three to five cells for extended missions. These characteristics support deployment in various roles across civilian and military sectors.