Overview
- The Ministry of Defence ordered 23 AW149 New Medium Helicopters to consolidate multiple rotary‑wing roles and help close the gap left by Puma HC2 retirement.
- Production will be anchored at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility with UK workshare expected to exceed 40% and a pathway created for future export builds in Britain.
- Officials cite potential export value of more than £15 billion over the next decade, with around 20 countries assessing medium‑lift requirements.
- The government will continue investing in Leonardo’s Proteus autonomous rotorcraft demonstrator, which flew in January, positioning Yeovil as a centre for military helicopter autonomy.
- The MoD did not disclose delivery timelines or the scale of new Proteus funding, and reporting indicates Chancellor Rachel Reeves approved the award following a MoD–Treasury dispute.