AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company is pleased to announce the award of the Apache Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to meet the Apache Attack Helicopter Future Support Arrangements (FSA) requirement. The contract valued at £439 million (€480 million), for the initial period to March 2014, was announced today by the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies MP during a visit to Wattisham Airfield, the British Army’s main Apache AH Mk.1 operating base. The Apache IOS contract will deliver greater aircraft availability whilst reducing through life costs by more than £50 million in the initial period and builds on the success of similar IOS availability based contracts for the UK MoD’s AW101 Merlin and Sea King helicopter fleets. The contract is output-based, whereby AgustaWestland is incentivised to improve the levels of operational output whilst seeking continuous improvement to reduce through life costs.

Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies said, “I am delighted to announce the award of this contract to meet the Apache Attack Helicopter Future Support Arrangements requirement. It provides a more efficient way of doing business, representing excellent value for British taxpayers whilst sustaining and improving today’s level of service.” Graham Cole, Managing Director, AgustaWestland said at the announcement “The Apache IOS contract is further evidence of our continuing commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Defence to deliver innovative industry leading support solutions in a cost effective manner. The Apache is proving its worth every day on operations in Afghanistan and we, along with our partners, are committed to ensure they and the entire Apache force in the UK get the absolute best possible support.”