An Italian aerospace company established in 1967 in Frosinone, Italy, specifically to produce and maintain advanced rotorcraft under license for the Italian military and international markets. The company was founded as a joint venture involving Agusta and several other Italian industrial partners. Its primary mission was to provide a domestic manufacturing base for the Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook, serving as the lead contractor for the “C” and “C Plus” variants used by the Italian Army and exported to several Middle Eastern nations.
Beyond the Chinook program, Elicotteri Meridionali served as a key production hub for other licensed designs, including the Agusta-Bell 212 and 412 utility helicopters. The company played a vital role in the Italian defense ecosystem by providing “life-cycle support,” which included the specialized maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of heavy-lift transport aircraft. In the late 20th century, the company was fully integrated into Agusta, which later merged into AgustaWestland and is today part of the Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters Division.