Boeing, Leonardo Team Up for Army Training

Boeing and Leonardo are partnering to pursue the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) service contract. The collaboration combines Boeing’s Army rotary-wing training experience with Leonardo’s AW119T training helicopter to provide a scalable training solution for aviators.

Boeing’s experience includes training services and mission systems support for the AH‑64 Apache worldwide, including live, virtual, and constructive simulation, cockpit-procedure trainers, and instructor development programs. The combined expertise allows the team to deliver a full COCO solution.

The AW119T is a commercially supported single-engine trainer. The program has surpassed 100,000 flight hours, including more than 16,000 under instrument flight rules and over 40,000 touchdown autorotations. Leonardo sustains 130 AW119T aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy near Fort Rucker, Alabama, providing logistics support and rapid responsiveness.

“The AW119T is a proven platform that already supports U.S. military training every day. With more than 100,000 flight hours accumulated and a sustainment network in place in Florida, Leonardo and Boeing are uniquely positioned to deliver immediate capability and long-term value to the Army through Flight School Next,” said Clyde Woltman, CEO, Leonardo Helicopters U.S.

The contract would provide a mature, low-risk aircraft, a full training system including airframes, parts, instructors, and simulators, enhanced instruction through proficiency-based programs, operational efficiencies, and established sustainment and production capacity to meet program demand.