Editing Leonardo AW609 (section)

===Further developments===
[[File:AW609 at Dubai Airshow 2021.jpg|thumb|An AW609 at the Dubai Airshow, 2021]]
At the Farnborough Air Show in July 2012, AgustaWestland announced a higher-weight variant of the AW609, up to {{convert|17500|lb|kg|disp=or}}.<ref name="ain2015-03-03"/> This model would trade some of its vertical takeoff performance for increased payload capacity.<ref name="ain2012-07-09"/> Officials from AgustaWestland have suggested that this short take off and vertical landing ([[STOVL]]) variant may be an attractive option for [[search and rescue]] and maritime operators.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/in-focus-global-demand-grows-for-helicopters-able-to-access-remote-oil-and-gas-fields-367860/ |title=In focus: Global demand grows for helicopters able to access remote oil and gas fields |work=Flight International via FlightGlobal.com |first=John |last=Croft |date=7 February 2012}}</ref> According to senior vice-president of marketing Roberto Garavaglia, the Italian government is interested in acquiring several AW609s for coastal patrol duties. Due to an agreement with Bell, these may not feature armament.<ref name="ain 2013"/><ref name=aw2013-12-02/>

In June 2013, AgustaWestland announced that work to integrate design changes as part of a major modernisation would delay the AW609's certification by up to one year.<ref name="2013 mod">{{cite news |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/agustawestland-aw609-certification-slips-to-2017-386896/ |title=AgustaWestland AW609 certification slips to 2017 |work=Flight Internationals via FlightGlobal.com |first=Dominic |last=Perry |date=10 June 2013}}</ref> These design changes primarily involved aerodynamic improvements, aimed at achieving a 10% reduction in drag and a significant reduction in overall weight, increasing the AW609's performance and capabilities. Separate improvement programs were underway on the aircraft's engines and avionics systems.<ref name="fglobal20130913">{{cite news |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/agustawestland-tests-enhancement-package-on-aw609-390534/ |title=AgustaWestland tests enhancement package on AW609 |work=Flight International |first=Dominic |last=Perry |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=16 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="awPr20130903">{{cite press release |url=http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustawestland-aw609-tiltrotor-aerodynamic-improvements-set-boost-performance |title=AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor Aerodynamic Improvements Set To Boost Performance |publisher=AgustaWestland |date=3 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141225190329/http://www.agustawestland.com/news/agustawestland-aw609-tiltrotor-aerodynamic-improvements-set-boost-performance |archive-date=25 December 2014}}</ref> In 2015, AgustaWestland announced the development of [[Drop tank|external fuel tanks]] which would permit {{convert|800|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} flights carrying six passengers over three hours.<ref name="awPr20150303">{{cite press release |url=http://www.agustawestland.com/-/aw1235 |title=AgustaWestland Announces Further AW609 TiltRotor Performance and Product Improvements |publisher=AgustaWestland |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=3 March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150331011657/http://www.agustawestland.com/-/aw1235 |archive-date=31 March 2015 }}</ref> 

In 2013, AgustaWestland was considering a US-based final assembly point for production AW609s. Managing director Robert LaBelle stated that 35% of the customers for the tiltrotor are expected to come from the US market.<ref name="ain 2013">{{cite news |url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2013-01-01/agustawestland-aw609-moves-forward-may-be-built-texas |title=AgustaWestland AW609 Moves Forward, May Be Built in Texas |work=Aviation International News |first=Mark |last=Huber |date=1 January 2013}}</ref> Reportedly, the primary production line was to be located in Italy while a second production line in the US was under consideration.<ref name="2013 mod"/> In 2015 AgustaWestland announced that the AW609 will be produced at its [[Philadelphia]] facility,<ref name="avweb20150303">{{cite news |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Tiltrotor-Production-Planned-223646-1.html |title=Tiltrotor Production Planned |work=AVweb |first=Russ |last=Niles |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=4 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="avtoday20150303">{{cite news |url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/the-checklist/AgustaWestland-Begins-Production-Phase-of-AW609-Tiltrotor_84365.html |title=AgustaWestland Begins Production Phase of AW609 Tiltrotor |work=Aviation Today |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150305162530/http://www.aviationtoday.com/the-checklist/AgustaWestland-Begins-Production-Phase-of-AW609-Tiltrotor_84365.html |archive-date=5 March 2015  }}</ref> the production site for the [[AgustaWestland AW139|AW139]], [[AgustaWestland AW119 Koala|AW119 KXe]] and [[AgustaWestland AW169|AW169]].<ref name="ain2015-03-03"/> Two to three AW609 aircraft will be assembled there beginning in 2017, and once production matures, a second final assembly line is being considered for Italy.<ref name="ain2015-03-03"/> Leonardo has a [[flight simulator]] in Philadelphia to assist pilot training in the peculiarities of flying a tiltrotor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Head |first1=Elan |title=Tiltrotor Training Tool: We fly the AW609 procedures trainer |url=https://verticalmag.com/features/tiltrotor-training-tool-we-fly-the-aw609-procedures-trainer/ |website=Vertical Mag |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220425152701/https://verticalmag.com/features/tiltrotor-training-tool-we-fly-the-aw609-procedures-trainer/ |archive-date=25 April 2022 |date=25 April 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Bristow Helicopters]] and AgustaWestland agreed to develop dedicated offshore oil and gas transport, and search and rescue configurations for the AW609.<ref name="vertical20150303">{{cite press release |url=http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/AgustaWestlandandBristowSignExclusivePlatformDevelopmentAgre |title=AgustaWestland and Bristow Sign Exclusive Platform Development Agreement for the AW609 Tiltrotor Program |publisher=AgustaWestland |work=Vertical |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> In March 2015, Bristow Group signed a joint development agreement with AgustaWestland at [[Heli-Expo]], which would allow Bristow to exclusively direct the direction of the tiltrotor for offshore missions such as oil and gas operations.<ref name="avweek20150306">{{cite news |url=http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/bristow-taps-tiltrotors-future-needs |title=Bristow Taps Tiltrotors For Future Needs |work=Aviation Week |first=Tony |last=Osborne |date=6 March 2015 |access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref> The changes could extend beyond the AW609 to potentially affect the design of larger and more advanced models that AgustaWestland was planning to introduce in the early 2020s. The introduction of tiltrotors would allow for point-to-point operations, flying oil company personnel to platforms from major population centers with a greater margin of safety. Industry journalists viewed the agreement as an approval of the tiltrotor technology from the commercial industry, where previously only the military were interested.<ref name=osb3>{{cite news |url=http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/podcast-exciting-and-strange-developments-heli-expo |title=Podcast: Exciting And Strange Developments From Heli-Expo |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |first=Tony |last=Osborne |date=6 March 2015 |access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="avweek20150306"/>

In the early 2020s there was interest in a military version; an AW609 for utility, medevac, or search and rescue versions began to be discussed more seriously.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Mark Huber |title=Military Variant of Leonardo AW609 Appears a Likely Option for Government Customers |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2023-06-13/military-variant-leonardo-aw609-appears-likely |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Aviation International News}}</ref>