British Government Awards Billion-Dollar Deal For New Medium-Lift Helicopters

The UK government has awarded Leonardo UK a $1.3 billion contract to build 23 new medium-lift helicopters for the country’s armed forces. The agreement secures the future of the Yeovil site as Britain’s last remaining military helicopter production line and paves the path for future export orders. The contract also funds Yeovil as a center for military helicopter autonomy and the development of the Leonardo Proteus, the country’s first autonomous uncrewed air system. According to AeroTime, the deal may generate over £15 billion in exports over the next 10 years.