Defence Minister announces helicopter work
will stay in the UK
Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and
Support, and Harriett Baldwin MP
Published:25 July 2017
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin is
pleased to announce that work on the AW159 Wildcat helicopter produced by
Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil will continue in the UK.
Options had been considered to relocate the fabrication
work for future AW159 helicopters orders – the export version of the Wildcat
helicopters already in service with the British Army and Royal Navy – overseas.
After careful joint analysis with the Ministry of
Defence, Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil has confirmed that it will carry out
all future fabrication for the AW159 helicopter in the UK, with much of this
work being undertaken at its Somerset facility – an agreement that will sustain
40 highly skilled jobs across the UK-based supply chain.
Wildcat is a highly versatile aircraft, capable of a wide
a range of tasks over land and sea. The Royal Navy’s maritime Wildcat forms the
core of the UK’s Frigate and Destroyer aviation capability and performs tasks
including Anti-Surface and Submarine Warfare, force protection, transport and
the vital information, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance
(ISTAR) role. Similarly, the Army variant performs reconnaissance, command and
control, force protection, and transport roles in a wide variety of
environments.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said:
I am delighted that a solution for UK-based fabrication
for the AW159 helicopter has been identified between the MOD and Leonardo
Helicopters. An agreement that secures Yeovil as the home of AW159 and Wildcat
production and maintenance in the UK.
This work has not only helped sustain 40 highly skilled
jobs within the UK, but will act as a positive boost for the company and,
through improved cost-effectiveness, their export customers. I would also like
to pay tribute to Marcus Fysh MP, who has worked tirelessly to secure this
great result.
Over a decade ago the MOD bought, as part of the 2006
Wildcat (then Future Lynx) demonstration and manufacturing contract, a number
of specialised jigs and tooling for the fabrication of the AW159 Wildcat
Helicopters. These essential parts are used to ensure airframe alignment,
mould, patterns and manufacturing tools and gauges. These will now be used by
Leonardo to carry out the fabrication work in the UK.
The MOD’s continuing commitment to the Wildcat was also
highlighted earlier this year, when a £271 million five year deal was signed to
deliver a range of support and training services for the UK’s entire fleet of
62 AW159 Wildcat helicopters, securing 500 jobs at Leonardo’s facilities in
Yeovil and Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat: Details
No comments:
Post a Comment