AW149 Onshore Design and Export Potential

Leonardo is the UK’s only onshore end-to-end manufacturer of helicopters, with our design skills, industrial capabilities and build facilities in Yeovil delivering more than 3,300 helicopters since 1947. We provide helicopters to customers across 26 countries – ranging from Norway and Canada to Japan and South Korea – and support over 500 aircraft around the globe.

UK-made AW149s could satisfy an addressable export market for more than 500 medium multi-role helicopters.

In 2023, total exports from Leonardo UK’s helicopters business totalled over £500m, and £2.3bn of export sales during the preceding five years.

Our teams design aircraft from concept to flight, utilising the latest process and technologies. This is evidenced though our world-leading helicopters such as the AW101, AW159 and AW149.

In Yeovil, Leonardo has invested in centres of excellence established in the design and manufacture of dynamic composite components and transmissions. Using the most advanced techniques, these centres deliver the highest quality output to our customers.

Helicopters from across our portfolio undergo comprehensive testing with our teams in the structural and flight test laboratories, whilst Leonardo’s Customer Support & Training facility plays a critical role in managing customer requirements across the world, providing through-life training and in-service support to our helicopters customers.

Leonardo Helicopters: From Design to Flight