AGUSTA

Agusta was a helicopter manufacturer based in Samarate, Northern Italy, founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The company began as a manufacturer of airplanes and later branched into the production of helicopters. Agusta merged with Westland Helicopters in July 2000 to form AgustaWestland, a multinational helicopter design and manufacturing company. Agusta’s notable helicopter models include the A109 twin-turbine helicopter and the A129 Mangusta attack helicopter. Agusta also collaborated with other companies on projects such as the NHIndustries NH90. The company was involved in the Belgian bribery scandal and paid two Belgian political parties for assistance in securing a contract for attack helicopters for the Belgian Army.