{"id":20242,"date":"2020-01-29T15:13:46","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T15:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/29\/leonardo-buys-swiss-helicopter-firm\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:49:54","slug":"leonardo-buys-swiss-helicopter-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2020\/01\/29\/leonardo-buys-swiss-helicopter-firm\/","title":{"rendered":"Leonardo buys Swiss helicopter firm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ROME \u2013 Italy\u2019s Leonardo has dropped plans to develop a new, single-engine helicopter and opted instead to buy a small Swiss firm that has already built one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian defense giant announced on Tuesday it was purchasing Kopter Group AG, which has developed the SH09, a five- to eight-seater helicopter built with carbon composite materials which first flew in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clean-sheet design developed by a small group of engineers, the SH09 maximizes pilot view as well as interior space with a maximum takeoff weight of 2,850 kg, while its Honeywell HTS 900 engine provides an 800km range and 140 knots top speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the purchase, which is worth $185 million plus future pay-outs linked to the success of the program, Leonardo said it was saving itself the resources it had planned to use designing its own new helicopter in the category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis acquisition will replace the planned investment aimed at the development of a new single engine helicopter,\u201d the firm said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t