Press Release no. 39/2020 Search and Rescue: The first HH139B helicopter delivered to the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force The HH139 “B” version will supplement the fleet of HH139A helicopters already in service with the Armed Force. On 30 November, the first HH139B helicopter arrived, destined to complete and strengthen the helicopter fleet of the 15th Wing and the SAR Centres/Groups under its command. The helicopter was delivered on 27 November, at Leonardo's facilities in Vergiate (VA), following the successful completion of the testing and acceptance procedures conducted by personnel from the Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA), jointly with the staff from the subordinate Milan Territorial Technical Office (UTT) and the support of the Italian Air Force's Experimental Flight Department. The delivery of the helicopters will conclude in 2021 and will see the handover of 17 “B” version aircraft to the Cervia Flight Groups and the SAR Centres.Search and Rescuedistributed across the national territory (80th CSAR Centre of Decimomannu in Cagliari, 82nd CSAR Centre of Trapani, 84th CSAR Centre of Gioia del Colle and 85th CSAR Centre of Pratica di Mare). The new HH139B version features some technical improvements that enhance operational capability and thus increase deployment flexibility to respond to emergencies and security needs. In particular, the new version has been equipped with a dual winch which increases system reliability and safety during recovery operations and a ’Mission console”This enables better management of onboard equipment for the purpose of searching for any missing persons. Furthermore, the maximum take-off weight has been increased from 6800kg to 7000kg, allowing for a greater payload capacity, and finally, the avionics and onboard sensors (such as the AIS system) have been updated with the latest generation systems. Automatic Identification System – allowing for better interaction with naval assets and the OPLS – Obstacle Proximity LIDAR System – which aids in the identification and separation from orographical obstacles. The 15th Wing is tasked with rescuing crews in distress during peacetime (SAR – Search and Rescue) and during crisis and operations outside national borders (C/SAR – Combat SAR), supporting Special Operations as well as contributing, in the event of major disasters, to public utility activities such as searching for missing persons at sea or in mountains, emergency medical transport of patients in life-threatening danger and rescue of severely injured individuals, biocontainment transport and, more recently, also supporting forest firefighting activities. The training level of the crews, the technological characteristics of the helicopters in service, as well as the use of special equipment and techniques, such as the use of night vision goggles, often make the 15th Wing the only helicopter component capable of successfully managing the most complex emergency situations, thanks, for example, to its ability to operate during the day, at night and in marginal weather conditions. Every time a 15th Wing helicopter takes flight, it is either saving a human life, or training to do so. From its establishment to the present day, crews of the 15th Wing have saved over 7200 people in life-threatening danger.