Defence News – Early January 2026
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Defence giant Leonardo, which owns the UK’s largest helicopter plant in Yeovil and a site in Bristol, has made its bleakest warning yet over the future of its British operations unless it secures a contract with the Ministry of Defence worth £1bn.
In what is being viewed as a last-ditch attempt to get the MoD to act, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani has written to Defence Secretary John Healey saying the group could scrap all investment in the UK unless it signs the deal.
The Italian-owned group’s Yeovil-built, medium-sized AW149 helicopter was announced last summer as the sole contender to replace the Puma, which has been used by the British military as a transport and utility aircraft since the 1960s.
The company submitted its ‘best and final’ offer to the MoD this spring but has since been forced to wait for a final decision.
Sourced from TheBusinessDesk
