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The AW149 is the ideal solution for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement. Leonardo's AW149 multi-role helicopter is our latest-generation battlefield platform, reconfigurable for a wide range of demanding missions in the most severe operational environments.

Advanced platform and system technologies, equipment and weapons; coupled with unparalleled safety and performance, and high levels of survivability and crashworthiness; provides military customers with a highly effective, survivable and cost-effective capability.

An Open Systems Architecture enables the rapid and low cost integration of new equipment to meet changing military requirements. Leonardo has an active AW149 supply chain and is therefore able to deliver 'Military off-the-shelf' aircraft in less than 24 months.

Choosing a British-made helicopter – the Leonardo AW149 – as the UK's next military helicopter, would create a cutting-edge new production line in Yeovil. It would be an investment in UK skills, design and manufacturing, and intellectual property, which would support thousands of jobs, boost exports and contribute significantly to the UK aerospace industry.

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AW149: Multi-role helicopter The AW149 medium lift twin-engine multi-role helicopter is designed to ensure excellent performance, lower lifecycle costs and all-weather capability, making it the perfect choice for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement.

AW149: A pilot's perspective Chief Test Pilot for Leonardo Helicopter talk us through some of the key features that sees the AW149 multi-role helicopter bring the latest generation capability to the modern battlefield.

AW149: A rear crew perspective Leonardo Helicopters UK Senior Flight Test Engineer and Aircrew Instructor, Andrew ‘Jumper’ Collins, delivers a brief on the operational benefits of the AW149 medium multi-role helicopter from a rear crew perspective, highlighting platform capabilities to conduct troop insertion, medical and casualty evacuation, battlefield logistics and special intervention.

The Home of British Helicopters For nearly 80 years, we've been manufacturing helicopters at our Yeovil site, the UK's only end-to-end rotary wing capability.

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AW149: Troop configuration Leonardo Helicopters UK Chief Test Pilot, Mark Burnand, explains how the AW149 multi-role helicopter can be configured for transporting troops to and from the battlefield.

AW149: CASEVAC configuration Leonardo Helicopters UK Chief Test Pilot, Mark Burnand, explains how the AW149 multi-role helicopter can be configured for CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) missions.

AW149: Weapons configuration Leonardo Helicopters UK Chief Test Pilot, Mark Burnand, explains about the various weapons configurations available on the AW149 multi-role helicopter.

AW149 at RIAT 2022 Leonardo's AW149 helicopter takes part in the flying display at RIAT 2022, showcasing its agility and power to thousands of spectators at the show.

AW149: Designed to Survive on the Modern Battlefield

Part 1

In the first of a two-part series analysing the Leonardo AW149 multi-role helicopter's survivability, we look at how the platform was designed with battlefield survivability in mind, with a focus on the airframe’s crashworthiness and minimised susceptibility to enemy fire, in addition to its unparalleled gearbox run dry capability.

Part 2

In the second of a two-part series analysing the survivability of Leonardo's latest-generation AW149 multi-role helicopter, we explain how a reduced exhaust Infrared signature, next generation Defensive Aids System and external weapons options will protect the aircrew and aircraft by avoiding detection and engagement in the most severe operational environments.

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AW149 Survivability – Interview with Chief Engineer, Mike Overd Mike Overd, Chief Engineer, Military Aircrafts at Leonardo Helicopters UK, provides an in-depth insight into the survivability of the AW149.

MAPPS – A New Approach to Air Platform Protection

AW149 Survivability – Interview with Chief Test Pilot, Mark Burnand Mark Burnand, Chief Test Pilot at Leonardo Helicopters UK, explains the role played by the AW149's precision weapons to suppress adversaries and avoid enemy engagement, or offensively in support of achieving the mission.

AW149 Training Solutions

Watch the video to learn more about Leonardo's comprehensive training facilities and services available for the AW149 New Medium Helicopter. Our training solutions use latest generation technology blended with decades of military and civil training expertise.

Learn more about Leonardo's AW149 training solutions

Mission Equipment

Leonardo is the UK’s largest manufacturer of the sensors and electronic systems which sit under the skin of the world’s most advanced aircraft, effectively acting as their brains, senses and nervous systems. Protecting pilots, alerting air crews to threats and providing unrivalled situational awareness, our world-class engineering and technology informs decision-making and helps ensure that those in harm’s way come home safely.

Team AW149 UK

More than 70 companies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland form the onshore Team AW149 UK supply chain for Leonardo's latest-generation military AW149 helicopter.

Learn more about our 70-strong Team AW149 UK

Team AW149 UK

Leonardo tops helicopter manufacturers product support survey for 6th successive year

Our No.1 rated support service helps maximise availability and minimises cost of ownership, and is one of the key reasons the AW149 is the ideal solution for the New Medium Helicopter requirement.

Discover more about why Leonardo is ranked first

Supporting the future of UK Defence & Security

Leonardo UK plays a leading role in several capabilities reaffirmed by the UK MOD in the UK Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, together with the Defence Command Paper (DCP), and Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS), which set out how, in partnership with industry, our armed forces can help the UK ‘build back better’ and supports a vision of a ‘Global Britain’.

Learn more about how Leonardo is supporting the future of UK Defence & Security

Supporting the future of UK Defence & Security

Driving Britain's Prosperity through Inspiration, Invention and Engineering

As set out in this independent report by Oxford Economics research firm, published in July 2024, Leonardo’s UK operations contributes £2.5 billion to the economy annually, supporting more than 31,000 British jobs. With our focus on high-value work, our employees are shown to be 60% more productive than the average UK worker.

Executive Summary: The Contribution of Leonardo to the UK Economy (July 2024)

Full report: The Contribution of Leonardo to the UK Economy (July 2024)

Further details of the Oxford Economic Report

Adam Clarke, Managing Director, Leonardo Helicopters (UK)

“From the outset of this competition, Leonardo has committed to the establishment of an AW149 production line at our Yeovil site. This investment into the line is our company’s ‘declaration of readiness’ to support the UK MOD in its requirement to have the NMH in-service in 2025. Furthermore, this investment further de-risks our programme and highlights our willingness to support the UK customer now, should Leonardo be successful with its bid.”

Adam Clarke, Managing Director, Leonardo Helicopters (UK)

Yeovil's contribution to the UK economy

Through our site in Yeovil, Leonardo is dedicated to driving prosperity in the South West region and across the UK, through Inspiration, Invention and Engineering. Watch this short animation to learn more about the impact on GDP, supply chain, exports and jobs.

Learn more about Leonardo's contribution to the UK economy