The UK’s biggest airshow reopened its doors to physical visitors in July 2022, for the first time in four years. FIA 2022 brought together all the major players in the aerospace industry, with Leonardo’s pavilion at the heart of the event.
Ahead of the event, a special edition of the Team Tempest podcast, “Future Horizons” was published. In the episode, Leonardo’s Zevi Watmough spoke with UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Director Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon, who looked back on the achievements of Team Tempest since the programme was announced at Farnborough International Air Show in 2018.
Our AW149 helicopter stole the opening day of the show when 12 fully armed soldiers disembarked from the aircraft in the centre of our static stand to demonstrate its credentials as the ideal choice for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter requirement. During the show, we announced that we had begun establishing our production line for the aircraft at the Home of British Helicopters in Yeovil, with investment to ensure that the first UK AW149 can be delivered into operational service in the MOD’s stated 2025 timeframe.
There were several other big announcements from our Helicopters business during FIA. The UK MOD awarded Leonardo a contract for uncrewed military Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) demonstrator, “Proteus”, to lift off; Leonardo and Sloane Helicopters renewed a distributor agreement for future fleet; Leonardo and Bristow Group agreed a ten-year global service programme for Bristow’s offshore fleet; The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust introduced another AW169 helicopter to its fleet; and Leonardo announced Helitune as a member of Team AW149 UK.
The announcements did not stop there. From our Electronics business: As part of “The Space Alliance”, we unveiled plans to boost the UK’s space sector; and Leonardo and Mitsubishi Electric agreed the concept for radar tech demonstrator JAGUAR, a UK-Japan fighter jet sensor programme. We were also proud to be involved in the launch of Team Pellonia, a collaborative national enterprise approach to delivering UK Next Generation Air Survivability solutions.
One of the key moments at FIA 2022 was the launch of the “Levelling Up Impact Report” by The Purpose Coalition. The report showed how Leonardo in the UK is benefitting disadvantaged regions by providing life-changing career opportunities, and was unveiled by Purpose Coalition Chair, the Rt Hon Justine Greening, and Lord Walney, alongside some of our apprentices and graduates.
Immediately preceding FIA, The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) opened its gates for the first time since 2019. Alongside our STEM exhibits in the TechnoZone , we were delighted that several Leonardo aircraft, including an RAF Typhoon, and the Italian Air Force's M-346 and C-27J flew during the show. A Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin, both made by Leonardo, were on static display throughout the weekend.
The AW149 also flew over the RIAT crowds in Fairford, and we later shared some special footage taken from the cockpit. Additionally, the full-scale Tempest concept model was open to visitors, while Leonardo trainees and other members of the Tempest Early Careers Network were on hand to discuss the STEM opportunities available to young people as part of Generation Tempest.
Straight after FIA, we announced that Leonardo, leading a team of small and medium-sized businesses “Team Endure”) from across the UK, had been awarded a contract to equip Army personnel with digital protection against remotely-triggered bombs.
Following two of the biggest UK airshows in years, we took time to sit back and enjoy Jurassic World: Dominion, which featured an AW101 helicopter in its return to the silver screen. July also marked 10 years since the aircraft had played a pivotal role in the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, and we shared an article looking back at the memorable occasion.