In 1997, the Italian helicopter manufacturer Agusta launched a programme to develop a replacement for the Bell Huey family of helicopters (which had been built in very large numbers by Bell Helicopter and under license by Agusta) with a potential market of 900 aircraft being predicted.
No ano 1997 o fabricante italiano de helicópteros Agusta lanzou un programa para desenvolver un substituto para a familia Bell Huey (que fora fabricada en gran número por Bell Helicopter e baixo licenza por Agusta), cun mercado potencial duns 900 aparellos.