North Macedonia invests in modern aviation with a landmark £300m deal
Another NATO member is giving up Russian weapons, which will be transferred to Ukraine, in exchange for Western-produced equipment. North Macedonia has announced the purchase of eight multi-purpose helicopters from the Italian conglomerate Leonardo. Although the number might seem small, it will be the largest arms purchase by the country since gaining independence in 1991 following the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Like the other states emerging from the disintegration of Yugoslavia, North Macedonia predominantly had weapons manufactured in the Soviet Union or Russia. These included, among others, the Mi-24W attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters. Due to continuous budget constraints, there was no money to keep the entire fleet of these machines operational. According to the latest available information, six helicopters of each type remained in service. The Russian attack on Ukraine made it clear that even with the allocation of the necessary funds, repairing these helicopters would be impossible.
Therefore, the North Macedonian authorities saw this as a good opportunity for a generation change of flying equipment in the army aviation’s arsenal. In March 2023, the defence ministry agreed to transfer 12 Mi-24Ws to Ukraine. As mentioned, six of them were flight-worthy, while the rest were so worn out that they were only good for spare parts. However, the six operational machines could be a unique opportunity for Ukrainians, as they had been previously upgraded by Elbit Systems with HUD displays, night-vision goggles, and other equipment enabling night-time operations.
Details were not disclosed, but it is expected that, as was the case with other countries transferring weapons to Ukraine, North Macedonia received some form of financial compensation for these helicopters, either from the European Union or the USA. This is especially true since, apart from the Mi-24Ws, the country also transferred four Su-25 attack planes. Reports so far have only mentioned the Su-25s and Mi-24Ws, but the announcement of the new helicopter purchase also implies the eventual withdrawal of the Mi-8 transport helicopters. It is expected that these will also make their way to Ukraine. It adds a twist to the story that all these helicopters and airplanes were originally acquired from Ukraine in the 1990s.
As successors to the Russian helicopters, North Macedonia chose two designs from the Leonardo concern. The order will include four AW149s and four AW169s. The total value of the transaction will be around £300 million. The purchase will be carried out under an intergovernmental agreement with the Italian government. Deliveries of the ordered machines will take 2-3 years from signing the contract, which is expected to occur in the coming months after the conclusion of negotiations with Leonardo.
The Italian helicopters left strong competition behind. Airbus's H145M and H225M, Bell 412M, and Lockheed Martin's S-70 Black Hawk also vied for the contract in North Macedonia. Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said that the Italian offer was the best in terms of comprehensiveness, price, logistical issues, and helicopter servicing. Buying both types of helicopters from one manufacturer could negotiate a better price, and thanks to the similarity of both designs, their maintenance in service will be less expensive, just like training pilots.
The AW149M is a medium multi-purpose helicopter, depending on the configuration intended for transporting soldiers and cargo, search and rescue missions, fire support, command, and reconnaissance. Its top speed is 312 km/h (about 194 mph), and cruising speed is 286 km/h (about 178 mph). Its maximum range is 957 km (about 595 miles), and endurance reaches almost 5 hours. Its advantages include large sliding doors of the transport cabin, which facilitate airborne operations using the fast roping method or the use of a winch. At the same time, machine guns can be installed in the windows of the transport cabin to support the airborne troops. In addition, the helicopter can be equipped with mounts for guided and unguided weapons, as is the case with the AW149 ordered by Poland, which will be armed, among others, with Hellfire missiles. The final configuration of the AW149 for North Macedonia is still unknown at this time.
The AW169M is slightly smaller. It can carry a maximum of 10 people. Like its larger cousin, it can be used for transporting people and cargo, reconnaissance, fire support, transporting VIPs, or maritime surveillance. Its cruising speed is 260 km/h (about 162 mph), the range is 700 km (about 435 miles), and endurance reaches almost 4 hours. The helicopter is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A engines. The AW169M comes in a version with retractable wheeled landing gear or skids. In a combat configuration, the helicopter can be armed with guided and unguided rockets and machine gun pods. Military AW169Ms have been ordered by the Italian and Austrian armed forces, among others. Additionally, these types of helicopters are often used by rescue or public safety formations, such as the Italian Carabinieri.
