Kopter
Kopter Group AG is a Swiss aerospace manufacturer and wholly-owned Leonardo S.p.A. subsidiary developing the AW09, a next-generation single-engine turbine helicopter for passenger transport, EMS, law enforcement and utility missions. First serial production aircraft flew August 2025, with EASA entry-into-service targeted for 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersWetzikon, Switzerland
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kopter does
Kopter Group AG is a Swiss aerospace manufacturer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. (Italian listed aerospace and defense group) since April 8, 2020. Founded in 2007 as Marenco Swiss Helicopter and rebranded in February 2018, Kopter operates as an autonomous legal entity with headquarters in Wetzikon, Switzerland, and serves as Leonardo Helicopters' competence centre for new light helicopters, including future hybrid/electrical propulsion development. The company employs approximately 320 staff drawn from 30+ nationalities across facilities in Wetzikon (HQ), Mollis (prototype assembly and flight tests), Uznach (component testing), Ennetmoos (dynamic components), Munich (R&D), Lafayette, Louisiana (North America) and Kopter Germany.
Kopter's core product is the AW09, a 2.8 metric ton class next-generation single-engine turbine helicopter positioned as the only all-new single-engine helicopter design introduced in the last four decades. The aircraft features a composite airframe, a Safran Arriel 2K engine (1,000 shp class) with dual-channel FADEC and SAF compatibility, a 5-blade composite main rotor, a shrouded tail rotor, dual-redundant systems meeting CS-27 and CS-29-aligned standards, and a Garmin G3000H IFR-capable glass cockpit with synthetic vision, ADS-B, HTAWS and NVG compatibility. The modular cabin accommodates up to 8 passengers across configurable layouts for four mission profiles: passenger transport, medical & rescue, law enforcement, and utility/aerial work. Performance specifications include 800 km maximum range, 260 km/h maximum speed, 5+ hours endurance, and a 1,500 kg cargo hook rating. EASA certification is in progress with entry-into-service targeted for 2026, following the first flight of the first serial production aircraft (Series 6) on August 8, 2025.
Revenue is generated through two streams: (1) aircraft sales of the AW09 via Leonardo Helicopters' global enterprise sales organization and a network of regional authorized distributors (Metro Aviation in US/Canada, Gualter in Brazil, Heliflite in Oceania, Helitech Asia in Southeast Asia and Korea, KAAN Air in Turkey, Léman Aviation in France, Sloane in UK/Ireland, Synerjet in Latin America, Aero Facility in Japan), and (2) customer support and services including 24/7 MRO, by-the-hour nose-to-tail service contracts, field service, engineering, training, and connected services with engine/airframe data monitoring. Pricing is quote-based enterprise sales with no public list price disclosed.
Kopter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kopter
- Legal name
- Kopter Group AG
- Website
- http://www.koptergroup.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kopter Group AG is a Swiss aerospace manufacturer and wholly-owned Leonardo S.p.A. subsidiary developing the AW09, a next-generation single-engine turbine helicopter for passenger transport, EMS, law enforcement and utility missions. First serial production aircraft flew August 2025, with EASA entry-into-service targeted for 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kopter industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Turbine Helicopters
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Military/Defense Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAB)
Keywords
Where Kopter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wetzikon
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Kopter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Aircraft Sales: Sale of AW09 helicopters to end customers through Leonardo Helicopters distribution network and authorized distributors.
- Customer Support & Services: Comprehensive service offerings including maintenance, repair & overhaul, field service assistance, engineering services, training services, and connected services. Offers 24/7 global support, by-the-hour contracts, and nose-to-tail comprehensive service packages.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels10 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kopter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kopter develops, manufactures, and supports the AW09, a 2.8 metric ton class next-generation single-engine turbine helicopter featuring a composite airframe, IFR-capable Garmin G3000H avionics, a Safran Arriel 2K engine, and a modular cabin configurable for up to 8 passengers. The company also delivers comprehensive customer support and services, including 24/7 MRO, by-the-hour contracts, engineering services, training, and connected services for the installed fleet.
Product overview
Kopter Group is a Leonardo Company developing a new generation of single turbine helicopters. The core product is the AW09, a 2.8-ton class single-engine helicopter representing the first all-new design in this segment in four decades. The AW09 serves multiple missions including passenger transport, utility, medical & rescue, and law enforcement. The company also offers an online AW09 Configurator for customizing the helicopter with optional equipment, comprehensive customer support and services including 24/7 global MRO network and training, and downloadable product documentation. Kopter became a Leonardo company in April 2020 and operates as an autonomous legal entity and competence centre for new light helicopters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AW09: Next-generation single turbine helicopter - the company's flagship product, previously known as SH09 before Leonardo acquisition. Features largest cabin volume in its class, designed for multi-mission operations including passenger transport, utility, medical & rescue, and law enforcement.
Products and services
- AW09 Helicopter Next-generation 2.8 metric ton class single-engine turbine helicopter with composite airframe, Garmin G3000H IFR-capable glass cockpit, 5-blade main rotor, shrouded tail rotor, and Safran Arriel 2K engine. Configurable for up to 8 passengers with the largest cabin volume in class and 1,500 kg cargo hook rating for passenger transport, medical and rescue, law enforcement, and utility missions.
- Customer Support and Services Comprehensive support offering for the AW09 and installed fleet, including 24/7 global support via MRO network, engineering and material fleet operation center, customer portal and apps, nose-to-tail by-the-hour contracts, maintenance and field service, repair and overhaul, training services, and connected services with advanced monitoring and analytics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Maximum range of 800 km (432 nm) with fuel-efficient Safran Arriel 2K engine
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kopter
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kopter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature9 records
Kopter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Leonardo HelicopterscoreKopter became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leonardo Helicopters in April 2020. Leonardo acquired Kopter to gain the next-generation AW09 product, innovative engineering approach, and skilled workforce. Kopter operates as an autonomous legal entity and serves as Leonardo's competence centre for new light helicopters, with focus on hybrid/electrical propulsion development. The AW09 complements Leonardo's existing AW119 in the light single-engine segment.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kopter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Robinson Helicopter Company: Manufacturer of the R66 turbine light single-engine helicopter, leading the private/VIP and training segments. Competes head-to-head with the AW09 on price point and pilot-friendly operations in the light single-engine market.
- MD Helicopters: Manufacturer of light single-engine helicopters such as the MD 530F and MD 500 series, with strong law enforcement and military utility market presence. Comparable target customer base (law enforcement, utility, EMS) to the AW09.
- Bell Textron: Manufacturer of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X light single-engine helicopter, the most direct in-class competitor to the AW09 with similar 2-3 ton class positioning, multi-mission use cases, and IFR-capable Garmin G1000 avionics. Shares the same commercial single-engine customer base.
Emerging players
- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI): Manufacturer of the LAH (Light Armed Helicopter) and Surion, expanding from military rotorcraft into light helicopters with emerging commercial export ambitions. Relevant as a new-entrant helicopter OEM with comparable technology development capabilities.
- Turkish Aerospace (TAI) - T625 Gökbey: Manufacturer of the T625 Gökbey light twin-engine helicopter, a 6-ton class platform positioned for VIP, EMS, and utility missions. Comparable as a state-backed new helicopter OEM with multi-mission positioning targeting similar customer segments to AW09.
- Russian Helicopters (Ansat/Ka-226): Manufacturer of the light Ansat and Ka-226 light turbine helicopters positioned for utility and EMS missions. Limited Western market access but a relevant global competitor in emerging markets and a benchmark for hybrid/light turbine design strategies.
Broad incumbents
- Airbus Helicopters: World's largest civil helicopter manufacturer offering the H125 (single-engine) and H145 (twin-engine) families. Directly relevant as the dominant incumbent in the light single-engine segment the AW09 targets, with installed base, training, and MRO infrastructure that the AW09 must displace.
- Leonardo Helicopters: Kopter's parent and operator of the broader Leonardo Helicopters division with the AW119, AW139, AW169, and AW189 families. Relevant both as parent and as a same-portfolio competitor providing the AW119 which is the closest in-house light-single alternative to the AW09.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kopter social profiles
Digital presenceKopter compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Kopter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kopter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Kopter subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Kopter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kopter M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kopter
What does Kopter do?
Kopter develops, manufactures, and supports the AW09, a 2.8 metric ton class next-generation single-engine turbine helicopter featuring a composite airframe, IFR-capable Garmin G3000H avionics, a Safran Arriel 2K engine, and a modular cabin configurable for up to 8 passengers. The company also delivers comprehensive customer support and services, including 24/7 MRO, by-the-hour contracts, engineering services, training, and connected services for the installed fleet.
Is Kopter a public or private company?
Kopter is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kopter founded?
Kopter was founded in 2007. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kopter based?
Kopter is headquartered in Wetzikon, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Kopter make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Sales are the primary driver. The others are customer Support & Services.
Who are Kopter's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Robinson Helicopter Company, MD Helicopters and Bell Textron. Emerging players are Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Turkish Aerospace (TAI) - T625 Gökbey and Russian Helicopters (Ansat/Ka-226). Broad incumbents are Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo Helicopters.
Does Kopter have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kopter.
What industry is Kopter in?
Kopter's product category is Civil Turbine Helicopters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABABAB, Military/Defense Helicopter Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3720.