At the same time, Italy's navy (the Marina Militare), was also considering the replacement of its fleet of Sea Kings built by the Italian company Agusta; Westland and Agusta soon began talks regarding joint development of a successor helicopter.
ໃນເວລາດຽວກັນ, ອິຕາລີກອງທັບເຮືອ (Marina Militare), ຍັງໄດ້ພິຈາລະນາການທົດແທນຂອງກອງທັບເຮືອຂອງສັດທະເລການກໍ່ສ້າງໂດຍບໍລິສັດ Italian Agusta ໄດ້; Westland ແລະ Agusta ທັນທີໄດ້ເລີ່ມຕົ້ນການເຈລະຈາກ່ຽວກັບການພັດທະນາຮ່ວມກັນຂອງ helicopter successor.