Leonardo to Provide AW149 for UK's New Medium Helicopter Program

March 4, 2026

Leonardo’s AW149 medium multi-role helicopter, pictured here, has been selected for the UK Ministry of Defense’s New Medium Helicopter program. (Image: Leonardo)

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced a £1 billion contract award for new medium helicopters (NMH). Under the program, Leonardo will build and deliver 23 of its latest generation AW149s from Yeovil, boosting the UK Armed Forces’ capabilities.

The AW149 is capable of operating in all environments in support of defense operations around the globe, from warfighting to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The NMH program will deliver multiple rotary wing requirements using a single aircraft-type. This means that the platform will be able to undertake defense tasks that were previously delivered by different aircraft types, streamlining the Armed Forces’ capabilities — improving efficiency and operational flexibility now and in the future.

The AW149 platform, already in service with international operators for a range of applications and under evaluation among various countries, will modernize the UK’s defense helicopter fleet, and replace a range of aging types in the medium weight category. Leonardo also describes the AW149 as designed with a large unobstructed cabin that is reconfigurable for a wide range of missions, including seating for up to 16 fully equipped troops for troop transportation. The cabin is also reconfigurable for search and rescue, special intervention, logistics and medical evacuations.

"We welcome the decision to award the New Medium Helicopter contract to supply medium lift helicopters to the Ministry of Defense, as well as the continued investment in Proteus – our autonomous rotary wing uncrewed air system in development with the Royal Navy," said Nigel Colman, Managing Director of Helicopters UK, Leonardo. "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 £1 billion deal will also make Yeovil the center of excellence for military helicopter autonomy, as the Ministry of Defense invests further in Proteus — the UK’s first autonomous uncrewed air system which is built by Leonardo and recently undertook its first flight.

There are around 20 countries with requirements for new medium-lift helicopters, according to an update about the program published by the UK MoD. Together with Leonardo’s other helicopters, international orders for NMH could generate over £15 billion in exports over the next 10 years.

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