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Agusta

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Agusta
Company typePrivate
IndustryAircraft
Founded1923 (1923)
FounderCount Giovanni Agusta
DefunctJuly 2000 (2000-07)
FateMerged with Westland Helicopters
SuccessorAgustaWestland
Headquarters
Samarate
,
Italy
Key people
Domenico Agusta
File:Pilatus Agusta A109 Flug.jpg
Swiss SAR helicopter A109K2
File:SAAF-A109LUH.jpg
South African Air Force A109LUH.

Agusta was an Italian manufacturer specializing in helicopter production, headquartered in Samarate, located in northern Italy. The company was established in 1923 by Count Giovanni Agusta, who had first piloted an aircraft in 1907. Following World War II, the motorcycle brand MV Agusta emerged as a subsidiary of the Agusta aviation firm, created to preserve employment for its workforce.

In July 2000, Agusta combined operations with Westland Helicopters to create AgustaWestland S.p.A., a multinational enterprise focusing on helicopter design and manufacture, which became a fully owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica, now known as Leonardo S.p.A.

History

Beginning in 1952, Agusta entered the helicopter manufacturing sector by producing licensed models from Bell Aircraft Corporation. Subsequently, it expanded to include licensed production of helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing, and McDonnell Douglas. Alongside licensed manufacturing, Agusta pursued development of proprietary helicopter designs. Notable early indigenous models included the Agusta A.101 and the Agusta A.106. Other projects from this period comprised the Agusta-Bell AB.102, Agusta A.103, Agusta A.104, and Agusta A.115. Additionally, the company produced a limited range of aero engines such as the Agusta GA.70 and Agusta GA.140.

The twin-turbine commercial and military helicopter, the AgustaWestland AW109, originally developed in the 1970s as the Agusta A109, remains in production with its latest versions.

The first official flight of the anti-tank helicopter Agusta A129 Mangusta occurred in 1983. This model was Western Europe's inaugural attack helicopter designed and built domestically. Despite limited commercial success, it has been adopted by the Italian Army, and a modernized derivative is being developed for the Turkish Army under the designation T-129.

During the 1980s, Agusta initiated multiple collaborative ventures. In 1981, it partnered with Britain's Westland Aircraft to develop the EH101 medium-lift naval helicopter (later known as the AgustaWestland AW101) aimed at meeting the needs of both the Royal Navy and Italy's Marina Militare. In 1985, Agusta joined forces with aerospace industries from France, Germany, and the Netherlands to create and manufacture the nine-ton twin-engine multi-role medium helicopter known as the NHIndustries NH90, fulfilling operational requirements for their respective military forces.

Projects from the 1990s included enhancements such as the 1994 introduction of the improved A109C series variant named the A109 Power, as well as the launch of a single-engine model based on the A109 platform called the AgustaWestland AW119 or A119 Koala in 1997.

Agusta became embroiled in controversy during Belgium's bribery scandal when it was uncovered that payments were made to two socialist parties governing Belgium between 1988 and 1989 to secure a contract for attack helicopters intended for the Belgian Army.

In 1998, Agusta entered into a joint venture with Bell Helicopter Textron named the Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company. This partnership aimed to develop both the Bell/Agusta AB139 helicopter and the Bell/Agusta BA609 tiltrotor aircraft. Bell eventually withdrew from involvement with the BA609 project, which has since been renamed the AgustaWestland AW609.

The merger between Finmeccanica's Agusta division and GKN plc's Westland Helicopters subsidiary was finalized in July 2000, resulting in formation of AgustaWestland.

On 12 February 2013, reports emerged that Giuseppe Orsi, then chief executive officer of Finmeccanica, had been detained on allegations of corruption related to bribery intended to secure a contract for twelve helicopters sold to India while he led AgustaWestland.[1]

Following this event, on 13 February 2013 Finmeccanica appointed Alessandro Pansa as CEO and designated Admiral Guido Venturoni as vice chairman.[2]

Shortly after Pansa took office, Italian authorities uncovered further bribery allegations involving Finmeccanica's dealings with India, prompting Indian officials to issue a show cause notice against the company.[3]

A formal complaint requested investigation into sales of twenty-one civil helicopters valued at over Rs 7,000 crore (approximately US$1.6 billion) by AgustaWestland between 2005 and 2013 within India. The complaint alleged that sales were conducted through intermediaries such as Sharp Ocean and called for tax authorities to examine potential tax evasion related to commissions paid and foreign exchange losses due to offshored payments.[4]

Separately, India's comptroller and auditor general criticized Chhattisgarh state government for overpaying Rs.65 lakh (around US$120,000) on an Agusta A-109 Power VVIP helicopter purchase. Both companies involved are promoted by brothers Nayan Jagjivan and Nakul Jagjivan.[5]

Aircraft

  • A.101 experimental transport helicopter
  • A.103 prototype for a single-seat lightweight helicopter
  • A.104 Helicar experimental light helicopter model
  • A.105 prototype light helicopter design
  • A.106 lightweight anti-submarine warfare helicopter
  • A109/AW109 versatile multi-role helicopter
  • A.115 prototype for a light helicopter
  • AW119 Koala utility-class helicopter
  • A129 Mangusta dedicated attack helicopter
  • AZ8-L prototype propliner and airliner aircraft
  • EMA 124 experimental light utility helicopter
  • CP-110 prototype light propeller-driven airplane
Collaborative projects
Aircraft produced under license

Aircraft engines

See also

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References

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External links

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