MOD signs £271m Wildcat Helicopter deal

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Leonardo Helicopters have signed a deal worth £271 million to continue support for the world-leading Wildcat helicopters.

The five year deal will sustain approximately 500 jobs at Leonardo’s facilities in Yeovil and Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, the home of Wildcat training and maintenance in the UK. It will deliver a range of support and training services for the UK’s entire fleet of 62 AW159 Wildcat helicopters, currently in service with the Royal Navy and Army Air Corps.

Wildcat is a highly versatile aircraft, capable of a wide a range of tasks over land and sea, forming the core of the UK’s Frigate and Destroyer aviation capability and performs tasks, including Anti-Surface and Submarine Warfare, force protection, transport and the vital information, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) role.

Harriett Baldwin, Minister for Defence Procurement, said: “This Wildcat deal delivers a key capability for the Royal Navy and Army, and supports vital high-skilled jobs in Somerset, where there’s a proud tradition of supporting UK helicopter operations.

“Wildcat is one of the world’s most advanced helicopters and an important part of the government’s ten-year £178 billion plan to provide our Armed Forces with the equipment they deserve.”