{"id":107042,"date":"2026-03-02T11:58:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/?p=107042"},"modified":"2026-03-02T11:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:58:23","slug":"united-kingdom-has-awarded-leonardo-uk-1-billion-contract-for-new-medium-helicopters-nmh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mavericknews30.com\/?p=107042","title":{"rendered":"United Kingdom Has Awarded Leonardo UK \u00a31 Billion Contract For New\u202f Medium \u202fHelicopters\u202f (NMH)."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

London; March 2026<\/strong>: Leonardo UK has been selected for the \u00a31 billion contract for manufacturing New Medium Helicopters\u202f(NMH), which could work alongside uncrewed aircraft, to support defence operations around the globe.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgraded deal capacitates Yeovil the global centre for Leonardo\u2019s military helicopter production and exports, and bolster United Kingdom as a leader for uncrewed and autonomous systems, a key frontier technology in the government\u2019s Defence Industrial Strategy.\u202f As expected, International orders for Leonardo\u2019s military helicopters built in\u202fYeovil\u202fcould\u202fsee over \u00a315\u202fbillion in exports over the next 10 years. Moreover, in a major boost to employment – thousands of skilled British jobs have been secured with a major helicopter deal that will boost the UK Armed Forces\u2019 battlefield kit and makes Britain Leonardo\u2019s global centre for military helicopter production and exports, which is worth a potential \u00a315\u202fbillion over the next decade.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u00a31 billion deal will also make Yeovil the centre of excellence for military helicopter autonomy, as the Ministry of Defence invests further in Proteus, the UK\u2019s first autonomous uncrewed air system which is built by Leonardo and recently undertook its first flight. The development of uncrewed and autonomous technology in the UK is at the heart of the government\u2019s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and could offer the opportunity to make platforms such as NMH optionally-crewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new deal secured by the Government with Leonardo will provide the UK Armed Forces with 23 new medium-lift helicopters, which can work alongside uncrewed aircraft, and paves the path for future military international orders to be built in the UK, with an increased workshare for the UK above 40%. There are around 20 countries with requirements for new medium-lift helicopters. Together with Leonardo\u2019s other helicopters, international orders for NMH\u202fcould\u202fgenerate over \u00a315\u202fbillion in exports over the next 10 years.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement secures the future of the UK\u2019s sovereign helicopter production and Leonardo\u2019s facility in Yeovil, Somerset, sustaining 3,300 jobs. This includes 650 people working directly on NMH and more involved with autonomous systems and providing ongoing support\u202fand\u202fmanufacture\u202fof\u202fthe\u202fMerlin and Wildcat helicopter fleets. With a UK supply chain of nearly 70 companies, the programme also secures sovereign defence skills and\u202fexpertise\u202ffor decades to come.\u202f\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deal\u202frepresents\u202fa major investment into the UK\u2019s industrial base, which is a key pillar of delivery for the Defence Industrial Strategy and other growth driving sectors like Advanced Manufacturing and Digital and Technology.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: \u201cThis defence investment works for Britain on every level. It strengthens our Armed Forces, secures thousands of skilled British jobs, and sets up big export opportunities. It is a major vote of confidence in British industry, British\u202fworkers\u202fand British innovation\u201d, while further adding, \u201cthis Government\u2019s broad deal makes Yeovil the proud home of Leonardo\u2019s global military helicopter production, building\u202fworld-class helicopters for our forces and allies around the world for\u202fmany years to come.\u202f It backs British jobs and security today and makes the UK a pace-setter\u202fin uncrewed, technology and innovation for tomorrow\u201d.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: \u201cIn an uncertain world we are backing Britain\u2019s world\u2011class defence sector to both keep Britain safe and drive economic growth. This historic partnership not only supports British jobs and security today, but positions the UK and its allies at the forefront of the next generation of defence and autonomous systems tomorrow\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chancellor has further reiterated: \u201cThe upgraded deal is the result of the government\u2019s commitment to a new partnership and new ways of working with industry as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy, and makes the MOD\u2019s relationship with Leonardo even stronger\u201d.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a major backing for Britain, the partnership will see the UK lead the world in helicopter innovation and autonomy, with Leonardo setting up Yeovil as a future centre of excellence for autonomous helicopters. Proteus which undertook its first flight at the end of January has demonstrated it can conduct a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare.\u202fThe agreement paves the path for future export orders of the AW149 helicopter to be built in the UK, significantly expanding the UK\u2019s workshare for the\u202faircraft\u202fand growing the local workforce in the\u202fSouth West, with a potential to sustain 3,900 jobs resulting to a 20% increase.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigel Colman, Managing Director of Helicopters UK, Leonardo said: \u201cWe welcome the decision to award the New Medium Helicopter contract to supply medium lift helicopters to the Ministry of Defence, as well as the continued investment in Proteus \u2013 our autonomous rotary wing uncrewed air system in development with the Royal Navy. Leonardo is committed to providing the UK Armed Forces with a world-class medium lift helicopter based on our leading AW149 platform that will serve our military personnel for many years to come\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the nature of warfare changes, the war in Ukraine has highlighted the continued importance of helicopters on the battlefield for transporting forces,\u202fkit\u202fand capabilities in complex environments. The NMH\u202fis capable of operating\u202fin all environments in support of defence operations around the globe, from warfighting to\u202fhumanitarian\u202fassistance\u202fand disaster relief\u202fefforts.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigel Colman further asserted that, \u201cthe AW149 NMH will deliver\u202fmultiple\u202frotary wing requirements using a single\u202faircraft-type. This means that the platform will be able to undertake defence tasks that were previously delivered by three different\u202faircraft\u202ftypes, streamlining our capabilities while improving efficiency and operational flexibility now and in the future\u201d.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The new deal delivers on the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n