UK's Last Military Helicopter Factory Hangs by Thread as Deadline Looms
The fate of about 3,000 manufacturing jobs at the UK's last military helicopter factory hangs in the balance as Leonardo Helicopters, the Italian owner, threatens to close the facility unless a long-awaited order from the Ministry of Defence is secured within weeks. The company's bid for the £1 billion "new medium helicopter" contract was delayed and now its future remains uncertain.
Sources close to the process say that the bid's "best and final offer" expires in March, and if the UK military fails to place an order by then, Leonardo will likely be forced to restart the bidding process. This would not only delay production but also risk having to renegotiate the price with its supply chain.
Industry insiders are growing increasingly anxious as the MoD's promised defence investment plan remains elusive. The contract is seen as a cornerstone of Leonardo's UK strategy, and any delay or cancellation could force the company to reevaluate its presence in Britain, including investments in electronics and cyber security divisions.
The Union's general secretary, Sharon Graham, has warned that workers at the Yeovil factory are "looking over their shoulders" waiting for confirmation on the order. She urged the government to put an end to the uncertainty by confirming the medium-lift helicopter contract soon.
Meanwhile, the MoD has dismissed concerns about the lack of progress, saying that defence spending is rising to record levels and that demands on defence are growing due to increased Russian aggression and operational requirements. However, critics argue that this does not address the root cause of the problem: a lack of transparency and communication within government departments.
The clock is ticking for Leonardo Helicopters as it awaits news from the MoD. The fate of 3,000 jobs rests on whether the UK military decides to place an order in time – or risks losing out on this lucrative contract forever.
The fate of about 3,000 manufacturing jobs at the UK's last military helicopter factory hangs in the balance as Leonardo Helicopters, the Italian owner, threatens to close the facility unless a long-awaited order from the Ministry of Defence is secured within weeks. The company's bid for the £1 billion "new medium helicopter" contract was delayed and now its future remains uncertain.
Sources close to the process say that the bid's "best and final offer" expires in March, and if the UK military fails to place an order by then, Leonardo will likely be forced to restart the bidding process. This would not only delay production but also risk having to renegotiate the price with its supply chain.
Industry insiders are growing increasingly anxious as the MoD's promised defence investment plan remains elusive. The contract is seen as a cornerstone of Leonardo's UK strategy, and any delay or cancellation could force the company to reevaluate its presence in Britain, including investments in electronics and cyber security divisions.
The Union's general secretary, Sharon Graham, has warned that workers at the Yeovil factory are "looking over their shoulders" waiting for confirmation on the order. She urged the government to put an end to the uncertainty by confirming the medium-lift helicopter contract soon.
Meanwhile, the MoD has dismissed concerns about the lack of progress, saying that defence spending is rising to record levels and that demands on defence are growing due to increased Russian aggression and operational requirements. However, critics argue that this does not address the root cause of the problem: a lack of transparency and communication within government departments.
The clock is ticking for Leonardo Helicopters as it awaits news from the MoD. The fate of 3,000 jobs rests on whether the UK military decides to place an order in time – or risks losing out on this lucrative contract forever.
I feel so sorry for those 3,000 workers at Yeovil factory... their jobs are hanging by a thread like that! 
It's not just about the money, it's about security and stability for them and their families. The government needs to step in and sort this out ASAP - no more delays or uncertainty. Can't they see how their lack of transparency is causing all these problems? 
Meanwhile, Leonardo Helicopters is trying to run a business here... it's not fair to threaten to close the factory if they don't get the order. It's like playing chicken with 3,000 lives at stake! 
and no one seems to know what's gonna happen next 
it's like the government is playing with fire, delaying & delaying until its too late 
meanwhile these guys have families to support & bills to pay 
and all we get is empty promises from the MoD 
that doesnt help matters at all 
. And meanwhile, the workers are just sitting around waiting for a reprieve from this uncertainty 
. We need some transparency so people can plan their lives without worrying about job security. 
!
3000 jobs are at stake here and it's not just about the factory itself but also about the lives of all those people who depend on it 
. I mean, what's the point of increasing defence spending if we're gonna keep messing around with contracts and timelines? 
it's like, come on MoD, get your act together! 
not much info is coming out and that's just adding to the anxiety for everyone involved 
. I think the government should really look into getting a handle on this ASAP 
.
The UK needs its military equipment, but do they need the politics? Not one bit 
. It's like, what are they even doing over there? 
! Can you imagine if they do? It's gonna be a major boost for the UK economy and stuff. And hey, even if it doesn't work out, Leonardo can always restart the bidding process and try again 
. Plus, it's not like the factory is gonna shut down overnight... it'll just give everyone some extra time to figure things out 
. Fingers crossed for those factory workers and the UK economy! 
. Can't they just give Leonardo a straight answer? Like, "yes" or "no"? We can't keep speculatin'. It's time for some transparency over here 
. The workers at Yeovil are gettin' the sweat out of their brows waitin' for this order... 
like, we all know the russia situation is getting crazy out there & we need our military equipment to stay safe 
so let's hope the gov steps up & confirms that contract soon 
does anyone know what the union is saying about possible alternatives like training programs or something?
the union is right to be worried tho - all these delays & uncertainties are gonna mess with people's lives. need some serious gov action ASAP 
. And btw, £1 billion is a pretty penny, but if the government can't even get its act together to secure this contract, maybe that's a sign of bigger issues... like how we manage our expectations and communicate with industries 
it's like, UK gov is all about defence spending rising 
but where's the transparency? 
which means even more uncertainty 
hope everything gets sorted out soon 
. what if this is all just a smokescreen 4 some other agenda? like, maybe leonardo wants 2 get its hands on some sensitive tech or somethin... we dont no enuf yet, but i'm keepin an eye out 4 any suspicious activity