Did Algeria contract the Italian AW-249 attack helicopter?

The German “European Security and Defense” website said in a detailed report on the most prominent attack helicopters that Italy announced in December 2022 plans to finalize a contract by mid-2023 to sell seven AW-249 helicopters to Algeria, the helicopter’s first foreign customer.

Leonardo is developing the AW249 to replace the Italian Army’s AH-129 attack helicopter, which entered service in 1990. The new Italian Army’s official designation for the helicopter will be AH-249.

The first flight of the prototype took place in August 2022. According to Leonardo, the development and test program is still on schedule. It is scheduled to begin replacing the AH-129 in 2025. The AW249 will be available for export.