UK awards Leonardo 1 billion pound military helicopter contract

Britain on Monday awarded a 1 billion pound ($1.35 billion)contract to Italian defence contractor Leonardo to build a new fleet of military helicopters, securing 3,300 jobs at the company's manufacturing site in Yeovil, southwest England.



Leonardo will provide British armed forces with 23 new medium-lift helicopters to work alongside uncrewed aircraft, the government said.



It also paved the way for future international orders to be built in Britain, with more than 40% of the work set to be carried out in Yeovil, it said.



Leonardo had warned that it could lose Britain's last military helicopter manufacturing site if it did not secure the order.



Defence Secretary John Healey said the contract strengthened Britain's armed forces, secured thousands of jobs and set up big opportunities for exports.