Leonardo secures a contract worth 200 million euros for 11 helicopters

Leonardo has opened the Farnborough Airshow in the UK by signing a contract for 11 civil helicopters with a major Middle Eastern operator, with deliveries due by 2028, thereby strengthening its already solid position in the fields of transport, search and rescue, and support for the energy sector. According to market sources, the value could be around 200 million euros. The Italian aerospace and defence group is exhibiting at the show with a range of products and solutions capable of covering all operational scenarios. These include manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters, anti-drone systems, advanced sensor technology, cyber-security solutions, space technologies, and command and control capabilities central to the coordination of networked operations and within so-called ‘tactical bubbles’. From the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet to the next-generation GCAP programme, through to the M-346 Block 20 and M-345 trainer aircraft, from the AW149 multi-role helicopter to the Proteus fully autonomous helicopter demonstrator, right through to the collaboration with the Turkish firm Baykar and the new Collaborative Combat Aircraft solutions, within an ecosystem designed to operate in a fully integrated manner. The company has also strengthened its industrial presence through the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles joint venture and the recent acquisition of IDV.

“We are currently experiencing a period of profound transformation in the international landscape, which calls for an increasingly robust, innovative and timely industrial response,” said Lorenzo Mariani, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Leonardo. “Strengthening production capacity, making supply chains more resilient, accelerating the development of new technologies and investing in skills are essential for sustaining growth in the sector.” Leonardo is exhibiting at the British trade fair

Meanwhile, on the opening day of the air show, there was a flood of orders. In addition to Leonardo, the lessor SMBC Aviation Capital signed a deal for 200 aircraft, 100 with Boeing for the B737 and another 100 with Airbus for the Airbus 320neo family, whilst the Saudi airline Riyadh Air placed orders for 34 wide-body aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. As part of its expansion strategy, the Saudi carrier also confirmed the purchase of six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and stated that it would exercise options for 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, converting 20 of these options to the larger 787-10 variant. Finally, Philippine Airlines announced – in the presence of Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s executive vice-president, and Kelly Ortberg, the American manufacturer’s president and CEO – its first order for Boeing aircraft in almost twenty years, agreeing to purchase 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, which are due to be delivered from 2031 onwards.