AB 204AS

The Agusta AB 204AS is a licence‑built variant of the Bell‑Huey UH‑1H helicopter, produced in Italy by the Agusta company from the early 1960s through the 1970s. Agusta acquired the manufacturing rights for the Bell 204 series in 1960 and adapted the design to meet the specific needs of the Italian armed forces and civilian operators. The AB 204AS retains the classic single‑rotor, turbine‑powered layout, driven by a Lycoming T53‑13 turboshaft delivering about 1,100 shaft horsepower, and features a spacious cabin capable of carrying up to ten passengers, six troops, or an equivalent cargo load. Its robust airframe, simple controls, and proven reliability made it a workhorse for transport, medevac, and light attack missions, often fitted with hard‑points for machine guns or rockets. Over 250 units were delivered to the Italian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and a number served abroad under NATO contracts. The aircraft’s longevity helped cement Agusta’s reputation as a premier helicopter manufacturer and laid the groundwork for later indigenous models such as the AB‑212 and the A‑109. Today the AB 204AS remains a benchmark of mid‑century rotary‑wing engineering and a symbol of Italy’s post‑war aerospace resurgence.

Agusta

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Design & Classification