The UK has contracted Leonardo to extend the fleet-wide integrated support for the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters.
Valued at over 165 million pounds ($217 million), the agreement covers up to two years of sustainment work for all 30 Merlin HM Mk2 maritime patrol helicopters and 24 Merlin HC Mk4/Mk4A transport variants.
Similar to Leonardo’s previous award, the project includes depth maintenance, spare supplies, aircrew and repair team training, technical support, and proactive obsolescence management.
Throughout this effort, the British government is expected to support approximately 1,000 jobs and apprenticeships across the country.
About 200 of these roles will be based at Leonardo’s center in Yeovil, with the rest spread across military stations in Somerset, Cornwall, and the wider local supply chain.
“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,” Leonardo Helicopters UK Managing Director Nigel Colman stated.
“At the same time, we’re looking towards how Merlin will be supported in the years to come under the Rotary Wing Enterprise (RWE) agreement, which will transform how support will be delivered across the whole UK rotary fleet.”
Latest Merlin Projects
London’s contract extension with Leonardo follows the Royal Navy’s October 202 launch of an infrastructure project to modernize the Merlin fleet base in Cornwall.
The initiative, set to run until 2028, will upgrade hangars, operating grounds, and training facilities at the site.
Six months earlier, the British government signed a contract with Safran to extend engine support for the Merlin fleet.
The agreement provides six years of service for the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM 322 engines powering the medium-sized helicopters.
