AgustaWestland Wins First Wildcat Export Deal With South Korea

Finmeccanica SpA’s AgustaWestland has won a first export order for the AW159 Wildcat after South Korea said it would buy eight of the helicopters to strengthen its navy’s ability to combat ships and submarines.

South Korea will receive four Wildcats in 2015 and four more in 2016 under a 589 billion won ($560 million) deal, the government’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a statement. A team of United Technologies Corp.’s Sikorsky helicopter arm and Lockheed Martin Corp., offering the MH-60R used by the U.S. Navy, was the losing bidder, DAPA said.