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02 Mar 26. Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports
Leonardo UK selected for £1 billion contract for new medium helicopters (NMH) – which could work alongside uncrewed aircraft – to support defence operations around the globe.
- Leonardo UK selected for £1 billion contract for new medium helicopters (NMH) – which could work alongside uncrewed aircraft – to support defence operations around the globe.
- Upgraded deal makes Yeovil the global centre for Leonardo’s military helicopter production and exports, and sets up the UK as a leader for uncrewed and autonomous systems, a key frontier technology in the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy.
- International orders for Leonardo’s military helicopters built in Yeovil could see over £15 billion in exports over the next 10 years.
Thousands of skilled British jobs have been secured with a major helicopter deal that will boost the UK Armed Forces’ battlefield kit and makes Britain Leonardo’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports – worth a potential £15 billion over the next decade.
The £1 billion deal will also make Yeovil the centre of excellence for military helicopter autonomy, as the Ministry of Defence invests further in Proteus – the UK’s first autonomous uncrewed air system which is built by Leonardo and recently undertook its first flight. The development of uncrewed and autonomous technology in the UK is at the heart of the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy and could offer the opportunity to make platforms such as NMH optionally-crewed.
The new deal secured by the Government with Leonardo will provide the UK Armed Forces with 23 new medium-lift helicopters – which could work alongside uncrewed aircraft – and paves the path for future military international orders to be built in the UK, with an increased workshare for the UK above 40%. There are around 20 countries with requirements for new medium-lift helicopters. Together with Leonardo’s other helicopters, international orders for NMH could generate over £15 billion in exports over the next 10 years.
The agreement secures the future of the UK’s sovereign helicopter production and Leonardo’s facility in Yeovil, Somerset, sustaining 3,300 jobs. This includes 650 people working directly on NMH and more involved with autonomous systems and providing ongoing support and manufacture of the Merlin and Wildcat helicopter fleets. With a UK supply chain of nearly 70 companies, the programme also secures sovereign defence skills and expertise for decades to come.
The deal represents a major investment into the UK’s industrial base – a key pillar of delivery for the Defence Industrial Strategy and other growth driving sectors like Advanced Manufacturing and Digital and Technology.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “This defence investment works for Britain on every level. It strengthens our Armed Forces, secures thousands of skilled British jobs, and sets up big export opportunities. It is a major vote of confidence in British industry, British workers and British innovation.
This Government’s broad deal makes Yeovil the proud home of Leonardo’s global military helicopter production, building world-class helicopters for our forces and allies around the world for many years to come. It backs British jobs and security today and makes the UK a pace-setter in uncrewed, technology and innovation for tomorrow. ”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “In an uncertain world we are backing Britain’s world‑class defence sector to both keep Britain safe and drive economic growth.
This historic partnership not only supports British jobs and security today, but positions the UK and its allies at the forefront of the next generation of defence and autonomous systems tomorrow.
The upgraded deal is the result of the government’s commitment to a new partnership and new ways of working with industry as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy – and makes the MOD’s relationship with Leonardo even stronger. ”
In a major backing for Britain, the partnership will see the UK lead the world in helicopter innovation and autonomy, with Leonardo setting up Yeovil as a future centre of excellence for autonomous helicopters. Proteus which undertook its first flight at the end of January has demonstrated it can conduct a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare.
The agreement paves the path for future export orders of the AW149 helicopter to be built in the UK, significantly expanding the UK’s workshare for the aircraft and growing the local workforce in the South West, with a potential to sustain 3,900 jobs – a 20% increase.
Nigel Colman, Managing Director of Helicopters UK, Leonardo said: “We welcome the decision to award the New Medium Helicopter contract to supply medium lift helicopters to the Ministry of Defence, as well as the continued investment in Proteus – our autonomous rotary wing uncrewed air system in development with the Royal Navy. Leonardo is committed to providing the UK Armed Forces with a world-class medium lift helicopter based on our leading AW149 platform that will serve our military personnel for many years to come. The Government’s procurement of the AW149, as well as the continued investment in autonomy, will support more than 3,300 jobs in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters, as well as 12,000 across the UK supply chain.”
As the nature of warfare changes, the war in Ukraine has highlighted the continued importance of helicopters on the battlefield – transporting forces, kit and capabilities in complex environments. The NMH is capable of operating in all environments in support of defence operations around the globe, from warfighting to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
The AW149 NMH will deliver multiple rotary wing requirements using a single aircraft-type. This means that the platform will be able to undertake defence tasks that were previously delivered by three different aircraft types, streamlining our capabilities – improving efficiency and operational flexibility now and in the future.
The new deal delivers on the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy – improving warfighting readiness, strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base, and making defence as an engine for growth. The Ministry of Defence spends nearly £7 billion with the defence industry in the South-West, which supports more than 37,000 jobs.
The procurement is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027 with £270 billion this Parliament. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/
26 Feb 26. This week Finland brought together senior UK defence and aerospace stakeholders at the Finnish Ambassador’s Residence in London for a high-level strategic dialogue focused on Earth Observation (EO), Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), and resilient space-enabled situational awareness.
Hosted by the Embassy of Finland and opened by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Trade, Ville Tavio, the event convened representatives from UK defence institutions alongside six leading Finnish aerospace and security technology companies: ICEYE, Kuva Space, Kelluu, Modirum Platforms, ReOrbit and SharpNav.
The dialogue centred on how Arctic-hardened European space capabilities can support UK operational needs in contested environments, from maritime and northern approaches to resilient command and control systems.
Opening the event, Ambassador Teemu Turunen emphasised the importance of strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty and resilience in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment, stating that “every dependency is a vulnerability” and underlining the need for Europe to build strength together with trusted partners.
Minister Tavio placed the discussion firmly within the broader European security landscape:
“In the current geopolitical context, Europe must develop its capabilities in order to enhance its capacity to act on its own and reduce dependencies. We must ensure that European space capabilities are developed efficiently.
In this field, we see that Finland and the UK would be an excellent match. In both countries, we need growth and prosperity. In addition, we need economic activity and more partnerships with like-minded and trusted countries and companies.”
The Minister’s remarks echoed the UK Prime Minister’s recent statement at the Munich Security Conference, where he stressed the importance of deeper cooperation between Britain and Europe: “There is no British security without Europe, and there is no European security without Britain.”
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted how Finland’s operating environment – including its 1,300km border with Russia and Arctic conditions where austere weather and electromagnetic disruption are routine – has shaped the development of resilient, dual-use space technologies.
The Finnish companies showcased a breadth of operational capabilities spanning persistent, all-weather synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery, advanced hyperspectral Earth observation and analytics, GPS-resilient positioning and timing systems, software-defined satellite connectivity, lower-altitude persistent ISR platforms, and secure communications and interoperable mission systems. Developed and tested in demanding Arctic conditions, these technologies are designed to operate in degraded and contested environments, supporting resilient command and control across maritime, air and joint domains.
A keynote address by Major General (Ret.) Juha-Pekka Keränen, former Commander of the Finnish Air Force, underscored how rapidly civilian-developed space technologies have transformed operational awareness, data processing and targeting cycles. He highlighted the growing importance of resilient space-based capabilities, diverse sensor integration, and sovereign access to data in modern multi-domain operations.
The panel discussion between company representatives that followed focused on accelerating collaboration between UK and Finnish industry, addressing procurement barriers, improving interoperability, and creating faster pathways from pilot projects to operational capability. Participants stressed that operational experimentation and early engagement with end users are essential for effectively integrating emerging technologies.
The governmental organisations present were encouraged to test services of start- and scaleups boldly with short pilot agreements, whereas the companies were encouraged to make sure that they understand the problems they intend to solve.
The event reflects Finland’s strengthened bilateral partnership with the UK following its accession to NATO and the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2024. It also aligns with Finland’s new Team Finland strategy, which identifies the UK as a priority market, especially for digital services and advanced technologies.
As Europe reassesses its defence industrial base and space sovereignty in light of evolving security threats, the dialogue in London demonstrated clear alignment between Finnish innovation and UK operational priorities – and strong appetite on both sides for deeper industrial and technological cooperation.
24 Feb 26. Serbia: Alleged assassination plot is unlikely to weaken anti-government protest movement. On 23 February, the authorities arrested two men from Kraljevo (Raška district) suspected of planning the assassination of President Aleksandar Vučić and his family, as well as of preparing attacks on employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The two men (43 and 51 years old, reportedly veterans) have allegedly plotted to overturn the constitutional order violently since December 2025. At the time of writing, no evidence confirming the suspicions has been presented, including any procured weapons. The case will almost certainly exacerbate tensions, which have been high since the start of a student-led anti-corruption, anti-government protest movement in November 2024. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and pro-government media have framed the case as the direct result of the protest movement, spreading false narratives that protesters have legitimised violence against Vučić. We assess that the case is unlikely to impact the protest movement, which remains highly resilient. A major protest is set to take place on 1 March in Niš (Nišava district); other major protests throughout March are possible nationwide. (Source: Sibylline)
24 Feb 26. Royal Marines will have an extra edge in Arctic combat after accomplishing a number of historic firsts as the UK looks to quickly develop how it utilises drones in warfare.
The UK’s Commandos are operating their heavy-lift Malloy Aeronautics T150B quadcopters, primarily used for logistical missions, during their winter deployment to Northern Norway in support of major NATO mission rehearsals in the region.
The marine drone operators of Malloy Flight, Delta Squadron, part of Devon-based Commando Logistic Regiment, have successfully carried out a number of milestone sorties, including transporting 81mm mortars, machine guns, ammunition, blood, and a bomb disposal robot across the battlefield.
These missions strengthen the Commando Force’s ability to fight across the extreme conditions of the Arctic while reducing the need for high-risk, long range ground manoeuvres – relying on the drone to make logistical deliveries instead of navigating across the unforgiving environment in all-terrain vehicles or on skis.
The three-man team have faced temperatures as low as -28c, pushing their machines to the limit as they carried out flights at the Blåtinden Ranges in the Troms region of Norway.
Malloy flight commander, Colour Sergeant Dan Lyness, said: “As the first team to integrate into ground forces in the UK we have been able to bring our experience from working in the UK to the high north and learn to operate with all the challenges of operating in temperatures below zero.
“This is a completely new capability that we are learning to exploit to enable greater movement on the ground with a reduced risk to life leveraging modern technology to our advantage.
“Heavy lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems have been used extensively in the Russia/Ukraine conflict with many new use cases, so it is critical we master this emerging capability quickly, training in the high north is a key part of that.”
The Royal Navy is developing its drone operations as it looks to keep pace with developments seen on the battlefields of Ukraine.
The Malloy T150B, which was declared ready for front-line operations last year after years of rigorous trials, can lift up to 68kg, fly up to 40 minutes and has a top speed of 60mph.
It is designed to carry ammunition, weaponry, food, team and medical supplies to Royal Marines operating in all manner of extreme environments.
The first operational deployment to Norway with the Royal Marines saw Delta Squadron assist mortar troops from 40 and 45 Commando to keep them moving forward without the need to carry their own weaponry.
The Malloy T150 flew the barrel, tripod and base plate for their 81mm mortars to their new firing lines, while also moving ammunition tins.
Fire Support Group from Charlie Company, 40 Commando, also benefitted from the help of the Malloys, with their General-Purpose Machine Guns and tripods moved to new positions, taking the burden away from the teams on the ground.
The drone operators also passed on critical knowledge of how to load and receive cargos from the drones, making future operations more seamless.
Added to that, a bomb disposal robot was flown to location, again freeing up the logistical burden.
Malloy Flight, made up of LCpl Will Cole, Colour Sergeant Lyness and Sergeant Ben Sykes, also helped medics develop tactics and procedures for flying blood boxes and medical packs to the front-line.
Coupled with these successes in the field, the drone operators worked closely with allies, mostly from Norway and the United States, to share tactical knowledge.
They also gave a brief to the Defence Secretary John Healey and 24 MPs from the parliamentary group, as well as defence seniors and commanders.
The Royal Marines Uncrewed Aerial System branch, currently 63-strong, work at Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall. They are assured by 700X Naval Air Squadron to operate and maintain their drones, before being sent out on deployments where they are needed.
700X are the Royal Navy’s drone experts and, last year, successfully made deliveries between warships during HMS Prince of Wales’ major Carrier Strike Group 25 global mission.
They are playing a central role as the UK looks to equip its aircraft carriers with hybrid air wings, combing fast jets, long-range weapons and a range of advanced drones. (Source: https://www.gov.uk
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.
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