Leonardo Italiano gave £ 165 million military helicopters in the United Kingdom | Aerospace industry
The Italian defense company Leonardo received an extension of the contract of £ 165 million from the British government for its work while maintaining the Royal Navy fleet of 54 Merlin helicopters, in a sign of the impact of the UK’s commitment of the United Kingdom Increase the expense for the defense.
Keir Starmer’s government, which is planning to increase military spending to 2.5% of the gross domestic product by 2027, said that the agreement with Leonardo would help to strengthen national security.
Leonardo said that the extension would help to support 1,000 jobs, including 200 workers in his factory in Yeovil in the Somerset, as well as 800 more in the largest supply chain of the United Kingdom. The agreement will also support jobs at the Royal Navy air base in Culdrose in Cornwall.
The Ministry of Defense described Merlin helicopters such as “underwater hunters” who are “able to intercept pirates and drug runners, save the life of affected sailors and deliver shops and people”.
Maria Eagle, procurement minister and defense industry, said: “This investment demonstrates our unshakable commitment to maintaining the cutting -edge defense that keep us safe, using defense as an engine for economic growth”.
The Merlin helicopter, known to James Bond fans for his appearance in the final shooting of the 2012 film Skyfall, is Built in the Yeovil plantThe last remaining helicopter factory of the United Kingdom, which also performs part of the maintenance.
Nigel Colman, CEO of Leonardo Helicopters UK, said: “Working in close contact with the Ministry of Defense and Royal Navy, we are maintaining the supported and helpful Merlin fleet, so it is ready to fly every time and wherever it is called”.
Leonardo is the main contractor for the maintenance of Merlin helicopters, with Lockheed Martin and Search appointed subcontractors, said the government.
Starmer announced in February that the United Kingdom would have spent more in defense, financed in part through cuts to the budget of aid abroad, a move condemned by groups of international development.
The increase in defense expenditure is equivalent to about £ 13.4 billion every year Since 2027 – with the ambition to increase military spending to 3% of GDP during the next Parliament.
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The extension of the contract for Merlin comes when the Puma Air Force’s Puma helicopters were withdrawn after more than half a century of operations in conflicts all over the world, following a Series of farewell flights in the United Kingdom.
The Ministry of Defense has not yet announced a substitute for Puma.
Leonardo emerged as a single bidder for a 1 billion pound contract to build new medium -sized helicopters to replace the Puma, after proposing the Aw149 helicopter, which would be built in Yeovil. The government should assign a contract for a new average helicopter later on the course of the year.
