Minister Visits Leonardo After £1bn Deal Secured

Published: March 6, 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
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The UK’s defence minister, Luke Pollard, made a high‑profile visit to the Leonardo Helicopters facility in Yeovil, Somerset, this week after the government finalised a £1 billion contract for the company to build new military helicopters — a deal hailed as a major win for British defence manufacturing and jobs. The contract awards Leonardo the role of producing 23 medium‑lift AW149 helicopters for the Ministry of Defence, ending months of uncertainty over the fate of the Yeovil plant and its workforce.

During his visit, Pollard emphasised the significance of the agreement for national security and local employment. “We wanted to get this contract right. This is a big win for Yeovil. It’s also a big investment,” he said, noting that the contract secures around 3,300 existing jobs at the site and could create hundreds more as production expands. The minister underlined that the award not only bolsters the UK’s military capability but also reinforces industrial resilience amid global defence pressures.

The £1 billion New Medium Helicopter contract had been under discussion for months, with industry and local officials warning that without government backing the historic helicopter manufacturing plant — often described as the “Home of British Helicopters” — faced closure and job losses. Leonardo’s chief executive had previously stated that continued work at the site was critical to its long‑term viability.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves echoed the broader economic implications of the deal, highlighting its potential to position the UK as a global hub for helicopter production and export. She said the contract opens the door to future opportunities, which could include further helicopter variants and autonomous aircraft projects built at the Yeovil facility.

Industry analysts and trade unions welcomed the visit and the contract award. Unite, a major union representing aerospace workers, described the agreement as a hard‑fought victory that not only protects jobs in the Southwest but also maintains sovereign defence manufacturing capability in the UK after competitors withdrew from the tender process.

The visit comes against the backdrop of broader defence procurement challenges, including budgetary pressures and delays in the Ministry of Defence’s investment planning. Securing the helicopter contract and showcasing it through the ministerial visit aims to signal the government’s commitment to sustaining domestic defence industry capacity while meeting the armed forces’ operational requirements.

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