July witnessed Leonardo ascending to new heights, with a resolute focus on technological innovation, strategic alliances and substantial contributions to the UK's economy.
Our prominent presence at the Farnborough International Airshow served as a dynamic platform on which to present our latest innovations and engage with industry leaders on pivotal topics such as sustainability, future technologies, and international collaboration. A key highlight was the unveiling of a new concept model for the next-generation combat aircraft by the three nations of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Exhibiting at the show together for the first time, the trilateral GCAP partners of the UK, Italy and Japan and their lead system integrators – BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) – showcased the significant strides they are making to progress the delivery of this next-generation combat aircraft.
Our attendance at the airshow also coincided with the release of the latest Oxford Economics report on Leonardo’s contribution to UK growth, revealing the company’s £2.5 billion injection into UK GDP, a doubling of R&D investment since 2018 to £500m annually, and the sustainment of nearly 32,000 jobs nationwide.
The report’s findings also highlighted our contribution to the UK helicopter sector, including £322 million of export orders since September 2023, with notable contracts in Japan and South Korea. This success fuels further investment in UK operations, with an additional £604 million earmarked for onshore helicopter development and the advancement of cutting-edge uncrewed aerial systems at Leonardo’s site in Yeovil, the Home of British of Helicopters.
Prior to FIA 2024, Leonardo once again attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) – the largest military airshow in the world. Several Leonardo aircraft flew over the weekend, while a number were also on static display. The event coincided with us looking at how our AESA Radar works in an operational scenario, depicting a Quick Reaction Alert scramble, with skilled pilots relying on the radar's precision and agility to swiftly neutralise potential threats.
Someone who himself undertook many operations as an RAF Tornado navigator is Leonardo's Group Business Development Director UK, Dave Appleby, who spoke at the Chief of the Air Staff's Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in July. He championed the ‘One Team, One Fight’ philosophy, emphasising the imperative of seamless integration between the military and industry to amplify the impact and delivery of UK defence capabilities – an approach crucial for navigating the complexities of the global security arena.
July also saw Leonardo become a signatory of the UK Police Industry Charter. The Charter, which is managed and monitored by BlueLight Commercial in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs' Council, Association of Police And Crime Commissioners, Home Office, and the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, sets “the foundational principles upon which industry partners, whatever their product or services, together with UK policing, can collectively adhere to.”