"The UK's last military helicopter factory must land a long-awaited order from the Ministry of Defence within the coming weeks to secure about 3,000 manufacturing jobs, industry sources suggest. Skilled workers at Leonardo Helicopters the Italian owner of the former Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset fear the company will follow through on threats to close the facility at the end of March, if the UK military fails to place an order for new helicopters by that time."
"Leonardo was the only bidder for the UK's 1bn new medium helicopter contract that was launched in February 2024, but delays in awarding the deal seem to have put the future of the factory at risk. The bid's best and final offer expires in March. One source close to the process suggested the company needed to be told it had been awarded the deal by January if it was to meet the contract's various deadlines."
The Yeovil military helicopter factory faces closure unless the Ministry of Defence awards a new medium helicopter contract within weeks to protect roughly 3,000 manufacturing jobs. Leonardo Helicopters, owner of the former Westland site, warned it may close the facility at the end of March if no order is placed. Leonardo was the sole bidder for the 1bn contract launched in February 2024, and the bid's best-and-final offer expires in March. Company sources say an award by January was necessary to meet contract deadlines and supply-chain pricing. Delays have prompted threats to reassess UK investment and industry frustration over postponed defence spending plans.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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