On 20 June 2011, development of the 8-tonne twin-engine AW189 was formally announced by AgustaWestland at the Paris International Air Show; at the time, the company planned to have the new rotorcraft certified by 2013 and in service in 2014.
O 20 de xuño de 2011 AgustaWestland anunciou formalmente no Paris International Air Show o desenvolvemento do bimotor de 8 toneladas AW189; na época a compañía planeaba ter o novo helicóptero certificado en 2013 e en servizo en 2014.