1,000 British jobs supported by deal to bolster fleet of sub-hunting helicopters

The Royal Navy’s submarine-hunting Merlin helicopters will receive maintenance under a £165m contract extension, supporting 1,000 skilled UK jobs.

The agreement supports the Government’s Plan for Change with the Ministry of Defence ensuring the defence sector is an engine for growth.

It will sustain 200 jobs at Leonardo’s helicopters facility in Yeovil, Somerset, and 800 more across the wider UK supply chain, and covers the fleet of 30 Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopters and 24 Merlin Mk4 amphibious and battlefield lift aircraft.

The Mk2 helicopters are submarine hunters and can also carry out search and rescue operations, intercept drug runners and pirates, and support humanitarian relief efforts.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, said: “Our fleet of world-class Merlin helicopters provide the Royal Navy with a vital advantage over our adversaries, keeping our carrier strike groups safe and enhancing their battle-winning capability.

“This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining cutting-edge defence capabilities that keep us safe, while utilising defence as an engine for economic growth, supporting 1,000 well-paid jobs across the UK.”

As well as jobs based in Somerset, the agreement will support jobs at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

The UK defence sector supports 434,000 jobs across the country.

Today’s news follows the announcement of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, as the Government will hit 2.5% of GDP spend by April 2027, and has a commitment to hit 3% in the next Parliament.

Leonardo is the prime contractor for the expert maintenance, with Lockheed Martin and SERCO appointed as key sub-contractors.

Nigel Colman, managing director, Leonardo Helicopters UK, said: “We’re extremely proud to have provided the UK’s AW101 Merlin fleet from the Home of British Helicopters in Yeovil.

“Working closely with the Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy, we’re keeping the Merlin fleet supported and available, so it’s ready to fly whenever and wherever it’s called upon.

“At the same time, we’re looking towards how Merlin will be supported the in years to come under the Rotary Wing Enterprise (RWE) agreement, which will transform how support will be delivered across the whole UK rotary fleet.”