On 26 September 2000, the first order for the type was placed by Bristow Helicopters. Bell was to be the leading partner for the development of the BA609 while Agusta would be the lead partner for the AB139 it was intended for production, sales, and support to be shared. These became the Bell/Agusta AB139 and Bell/Agusta BA609 respectively. In 1998, Bell and Agusta entered into an agreement setting up a joint venture, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC), to develop two aircraft: a conventional helicopter and a tiltrotor aircraft.
A potential market of 900 aircraft was predicted.
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In 1997, the Italian helicopter manufacturer Agusta launched a programme to develop a replacement for the Bell Huey family of helicopters (which had been built in very large numbers by Bell Helicopter and under license by Agusta). Since entering service in 2003, the AW139 has become one of AgustaWestland's most influential products it has been subsequently developed into the enlarged medium-lift military-orientated AW149.
The AW139 was originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, being redesignated AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project. In addition to AgustaWestland's manufacturing facilities in Italy and the United States, the AW139 is produced in Russia by HeliVert, a joint venture between AgustaWestland and Russian Helicopters. It is marketed at several different roles, including VIP/corporate transport, offshore transport, fire fighting, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical service, disaster relief, and maritime patrol. The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter developed and built by AgustaWestland (now part of Leonardo).
Twin-engined, medium-lift helicopter manufactured by Leonardo AW139Īn Italian Air Force HH-139 at Trident Juncture 15
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