A-109 Hirundo
Notes: The Hirundo (Swallow) is an Italian helicopter available in military, civilian, and police versions. The helicopter's wheels are fully retractable. Variations include troop transport, EW aircraft, scout/attack, and antitank. The Hirundo has no aerial refueling capability, and has no ejection seats.
The A-109 was the initial production version. It is a basic light transport helicopter. The A-109EOA is the military version of that helicopter. Agusta then produced a new version, with a "wide-body" cabin, composite-construction rotor, improved transmission, and slightly lighter weight. The A-109BA was produced for one of the few export customers of the Hirundo, Belgium. The A-109BA has the ability to fire TOW ATGM.
The A-109K was produced with exports to Africa and the Middle East in mind. However, these never materialized, so they went to Italian use. The A-109KM has more powerful engines and greatly upgraded avionics in a lengthened nose. The A-109 Power is the current production version; it is used Italy and by the US Coast Guard, who flies them armed for drug interdiction. (In the US Coast Guard, they are known as the MH-68.) MH-68s also have a rescue hoist with a capacity of 204 kg. The A-109 Power is equipped with a computer-controlled glass cockpit, automatic direction finder and GPS,
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
A-109EOA |
$118,200 |
AvG |
907 kg |
2.72 tons |
2+6 |
6 |
None |
Enclosed |
A-109CM |
$119,528 |
AvG |
907 kg |
2.71 tons |
2+8 |
6 |
None |
Enclosed |
A-109BA |
$122,422 |
AvG |
907 kg |
2.72 tons |
2+8 |
6 |
None |
Enclosed |
A-109KM |
$405,203 |
AvG |
950 kg |
2.85 tons |
2+8 |
6 |
Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification |
Enclosed |
A-109 Power |
$1,019,166 |
AvG |
1.27 tons |
3 tons |
2+6 |
14 |
FLIR, Image Intensification |
Enclosed |
MH-68 |
$1,529,736 |
AvG |
1.27 tons |
3.13 tons |
2+6 |
16 |
FLIR, Image Intensification, Radar |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
A-109EOA/BA |
622 |
156 |
40/39 |
700 |
324 |
6095 |
A-109CM |
624 |
156 |
40/39 |
700 |
324 |
6095 |
A-109KM |
659 |
165 |
40/41 |
700 |
544 |
6095 |
A-109 Power/MH-68 |
622 |
156 |
35/39 |
870 |
517 |
5970 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
A-109EOA/CM |
None |
40m |
+1 |
2 Hardpoints |
None |
A-109BA |
None |
40m |
+2 |
2 Hardpoints |
None |
A-109KM |
Inertial Navigation, RWR |
40m |
+2 |
2 Hardpoints |
None |
A-109 Power |
GPS, Inertial Navigation, RWR |
40m |
+3 |
2 Hardpoints |
None |
MH-68 |
GPS, Inertial Navigation, RWR, LWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, IR Suppression |
40m |
+3 |
2 Hardpoints |
None |