• The contract will sustain more than 340 industry jobs in the South West of England
• More than 70 AW159s delivered to operators around the world logging in excess of 80,000 flight hours 

Leonardo will now deliver the next stage of the Wildcat Integrated Support and Training (WIST) contract, which confirms the next five-year period of the 34-year contract originally signed in 2012.

This £360 million contract awarded last year marks the continued delivery of support services for the UK’s fleet of AW159 Wildcat helicopters to the British Armed Forces. The WIST contract includes a spares provisioning service, a 3-Year Scheduled Maintenance service, enhanced technical support services including aircraft safety management, as well as delivering synthetic and ground-based training for both aircrew and maintainers.

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Wildcat helicopters play a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces through reconnaissance, protection and transport. I am delighted they will continue to receive high-quality technical support and training from Leonardo UK.”

Simon Jones, VP of Customer Support and Training at Leonardo Helicopters UK, commented: “The next tranche of the Wildcat Integrated Support and Training (WIST) contract ensures the British Armed Forces have the right equipment, training and support to continue to meet their operational needs. Through collaboration and partnerships, WIST maintains UK rotary wing capabilities onshore through the centre’s cutting-edge technologies and a highly-skilled workforce.”

Keith Bethell, DE&S Director Helicopters, said: “The maiden operational deployment of Carrier Strike Group emphasised once again the important role Wildcat helicopters play, and will continue to play, as the UK faces emerging and evolving threats. 

“The third pricing period of WIST will ensure the frontline personnel of the Royal Navy and British Army continue to be expertly training, supported and equipped to keep our nation and allies around the globe safe.”

The contract will sustain over 340 industry jobs, mainly in the South West of England at RNAS Yeovilton where the Wildcat Training Centre and frontline squadrons are located and also at Leonardo in Yeovil where the joint Leonardo/Ministry of Defence WIST project office is located.

The twin-engine AW159 helicopter is a modern, multi-role and agile platform utilised for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) roles around the world. The platform recently surpassed 80,000 flight hours across its global fleet. To date more than 70 AW159s in a variety of roles have been delivered to battlefield and maritime military operators around the world, including the British Army and Royal Navy.

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Photo Rob Vogelaar