Thousands of highly skilled British jobs have been secured under a major £1 billion helicopter agreement that will enhance the UK Armed Forces’ battlefield capability and establish Britain as Leonardo’s global hub for military helicopter production and export activity. The programme carries a potential export value of up to £15 billion over the next decade.
The agreement will deliver 23 new medium-lift helicopters to the UK Armed Forces, with the capability to operate alongside uncrewed aircraft systems. It also positions the UK to fulfil future international orders domestically, increasing UK workshare to more than 40%. With around 20 countries currently assessing requirements for new medium-lift platforms, and alongside Leonardo’s broader helicopter portfolio, prospective NMH exports could generate in excess of £15 billion over the next ten years.
A central component of the investment is the designation of Yeovil as the UK’s centre of excellence for military helicopter autonomy. The Ministry of Defence will continue to invest in Proteus — the UK’s first autonomous uncrewed air system, developed by Leonardo and recently flown for the first time. The advancement of autonomous and uncrewed technologies is a core element of the Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy and may enable future platforms, including NMH, to be configured as optionally crewed systems.
The deal secures the long-term future of the UK’s sovereign helicopter manufacturing capability and Leonardo’s Yeovil facility in Somerset, sustaining approximately 3,300 jobs. This includes around 650 roles directly supporting the NMH programme, in addition to personnel engaged in autonomous systems development and the ongoing manufacture and support of the Merlin and Wildcat fleets.
Supported by a UK supply chain comprising nearly 70 companies, the programme reinforces national defence skills and industrial resilience for decades to come. It represents a substantial investment in the UK’s industrial base, underpinning the Defence Industrial Strategy and supporting growth across advanced manufacturing and digital and technology sectors.
