The Italian Army are to be equipped with a total of 60 Mangusta helicopters, 45 of the A129 variant and 15 of the A129 International. The first 45 are to be upgraded to the multi-role standard. Agusta are collaborating with PZL-Swidnik of Poland to offer A129 International for the Polish attack helicopter requirement.

The A129 is able to self deploy over 1,000 km using external fuel tanks while carrying four air-to-air missiles for self protection. The helicopter is air transportable by C-130 and larger transport aircraft.

The structure of the helicopter is a semi-monocoque design with an aluminium alloy frame. Composite materials make up almost 50% of the fuselage weight. The airframe provides ballistic protection against 12.7 mm armour piercing rounds. The engines are armour protected. The main rotor has ballistic tolerance against 12.7 mm rounds.

The pilot and gunner cockpits are in a stepped tandem configuration. Both cockpits are equipped with multifunction displays which present information from the Integrated Management System and provide a synthetic waypoint map, navigation data, weapon status, weapon selection, communications, and aircraft/flight data. The displays are equipped with multifunction keyboards.

The helicopter is equipped with an Automatic Flight Control System, which provides nap-of-the-earth flight capability and the level of stability for precise weapon aiming. A Tactical Navigation Display enhances mission management and situational awareness.

The A129 International helicopter can be armed with Raytheon Stinger or Matra BAe Dynamics Mistral air-to-air missiles. Italian Army A129’s will be equipped with Stinger. The helicopter has dual air-to-ground missile capability with the Lockheed Martin Hellfire or Raytheon TOW 2 missile or a mix of both, giving the gunner selective fire against low and high value targets and the capability of precise hits in urban environments. The Mangusta is fitted with the HeliTOW system for the TOW2A missile.

The A129 International also has dual rocket system capability, deploying 70 mm rockets for ammunition commonality with NATO countries and 81 mm rockets for longer range engagements. The Mangusta can carry four 81 mm rocket launchers. A 20 mm three-barrel Gatling-type turreted cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition is mounted under the nose.

The helicopter's electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning receiver, a laser warner and infrared sensors. The helicopter countermeasures systems include radar and infrared jammers and chaff and flare decoy dispensers.

The helicopter's infrared night vision system (HIRNS) includes a mini FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) supplied by Honeywell and mounted on a steerable platform at the nose of the helicopter. The pilot's Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADS), by Honeywell, positions a monocle over one eye and displays the view presented by the FLIR. The system provides automatic weapon aiming which can be used by day or night.

A mast-mounted sight can be installed giving the helicopter the capability to aim and fire weapons from cover. The sight is used for target acquisition, missile tracking, laser target designation, laser tracking and laser rangefinding.

The A129 International helicopter has a fireproof engine compartment with two low-noise LHTEC-T800 turboshaft engines. The engines are separated and there are two separate fuel systems with crossfeed capability. The crash-resistant tanks are self-sealing and fitted with self-sealing lines and a digital fuel feed controller. The thermal signature is minimised by the installation of an infrared exhaust suppression system.