Leonardo – Supporting UK Defence & Security

The UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 – ‘Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad’ – sets out how the UK Government plans to “transform Defence” over the next decade in response to the most serious threats being faced since the end of the Cold War. The SDR not only defines Defence as central to the nation’s security, but also to its economic growth and prosperity. 

To this end, the SDR calls for the UK Ministry of Defence to drive a new partnership with industry to deliver a “defence dividend” that creates “jobs, wealth, and opportunity in every corner of our country.” 

Leonardo is already working with the UK armed forces and industry partners to deliver game-changing technology for programmes designed and delivered by highly skilled people at sites nationwide including: 

In addition, we look forward to understanding more how our capabilities can further support the digital capability offered by cyber and electromagnetic activities and the space domain.

Looking to the future, Leonardo is continuing to address the requirements of the New Medium Helicopter following the retirement of Puma and how, in collaboration with UK Government, this and other opportunities could lead to greater export success.

Read the UK Government's Strategic Defence Review (June 2025) (PDF, 5574 KB)

Leonardo's response to the SDR

Following publication of the UK Strategic Defence Review 2025 (SDR), which “sets a path for the next decade to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong aboard”, Leonardo stands ready to help deliver this transformation in partnership with government, industry and academia.

Read Leonardo's response to the SDR

Leonardo's response to the SDR

Key contributor to the DGP and UKDSC Secondment Programme

As one of the founding members of the Defence Growth Partnership (DGP), Leonardo plays a crucial role demonstrating true collaboration between Government and Industry to support growth of UK’s economy and its prosperity. For the past decade, Leonardo has committed to seconding resources into the UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC), which is the operational arm of the DGP, to undertake analysis and advise key government decision-makers and industry stakeholders on important and topical issues that affect the Defence sector and help increase our success internationally. 

Learn more about the DGP, UKDSC and the secondment initiative

Driving Britain's Prosperity through Inspiration, Invention and Engineering

Leonardo’s UK operations contribute £2.5 billion to the economy annually, supporting over 31,000 British jobs. With our focus on high-value work, our employees are shown to be 60% more productive than the UK average.

Partnering with UK Armed Forces

Leonardo recognises the contribution that the members of the Armed Forces make to the nation through their service and sacrifices as a result of their duty. As part of this, we are a supporter of the “Armed Forces Covenant”, demonstrating our pledge to the Armed Forces Community.

A Partner of Choice

Leonardo has been at the heart of the trend towards greater collaboration within the defence sector, and is a critical member of several teaming agreements on major UK military programmes.

Boosting defence resilience through sovereign combat air

In this Daily Telegraph article, Clive Higgins (Leonardo UK), Charles Woodburn (BAE Systems), Chris Allam (MBDA UK) and Adam Riddle (Rolls-Royce) explain why ongoing commitment to the UK's combat air sector is critical to the nation's security and resilience.

Skills – developing our people

Leonardo employs over 8,500 people highly skilled people across the UK. We are one of the UK’s largest employers of engineering apprentices and graduates, investing around £3.5 million on employee training and development annually, and actively support STEM curricula.

A Strong and Diverse Supply Chain

Maintaining Leonardo's healthy and productive relationships with all our suppliers is critical to our continued success. Our eight major sites across the UK each bring investment into the local economy and wider region through strong links with supply chain companies in the surrounding areas.

More about UK Supply Chain
More about Suppliers

Future Horizons: The Tempest Podcast

Team Tempest (UK MOD, BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA and Rolls-Royce) has released a podcast series, in which you can listen to some of the fascinating thoughts, insights and predictions from the innovators, engineers and thinkers behind Team Tempest.

Supporting the UK Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group

Leonardo is proud to support the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG25) through our role as strategic partner to the UK Ministry of Defence and one of the UK's leading equipment suppliers to the UK armed forces.