Piaggio Wins Order for Nine Avanti Evos, Retrofits

Piaggio Aerospace has won a nearly $221 million (€200 million) contract from the Italian Ministry of Defense for nine Avanti Evos and the retrofit of more than 19 aircraft, the Italian airframer announced this week.

Under the aircraft order, Piaggio will deliver over the next four years five of the twin turboprops in a passenger and ambulance configuration and four for control of the country's navigation and radio systems including radar, ILS and VOR.

It also will retrofit the first P.180 Avanti used by the Italian Armed Forces, bringing the contract’s value to $144 million (€130 million). Additionally, the same agreement calls for the defense ministry to finalize a commitment in the next two years to retrofit 18 aircraft used by the Carabinieri, army, navy and air force, pushing the total contract value to $221 million.

"The order finalized today—just one year after the extraordinary administration started—is the result of the joint and generous effort of all parties involved: the Italian Government, the Armed Forces, and local Institutions,” extraordinary commissioner of Piaggio Aerospace Vincenzo Nicastro said. “This represents, for Piaggio Aerospace, a turning point: with the restart of aircraft production, we will also be able to gradually reintegrate workers [who are] currently [on] temporary layoffs.”

Nicastro added that the restructured OEM continues to finalize new aircraft orders from the private market as well as prepare a plan to sell its assets.