With the recent delivery of an AW139 to the government of the Ivory Coast for transport missions, AgustaWestland claims that the type is the market leader in the intermediate weight class. The company has received orders for almost 900 AW139s from more than 220 customers in almost 70 countries. They are used for law enforcement and homeland security duties, SAR and emergency medical service, firefighting, offshore transport and other government roles.
Although this is the first delivery of an AW139 to the Ivory Coast, AgustaWestland notes that a long list of African customers and nations have selected the type. Several recent sales in French-speaking Western Africa have taken the total sold across Africa beyond 60, the company added. It plans to open an authorized service center in the region.