AgustaWestland gets UK helicopter support contract
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded an approximately £580 million helicopter support contract to AgustaWestland, as announced on 26 March.
The deal will see AgustaWestland provide maintenance support to the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 and Mk3 helicopters over the next five years, from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2020. It is part of the 25-year Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) programme signed in March 2006.
Through this contract, AgustaWestland and its industrial partners, including Selex, will provide an availability-based support package for 55 AW101 helicopters currently in service in the UK. Selex will support air vehicle avionics.
AgustaWestland is also providing IOS solutions for the MOD's Apache AH Mk.1, AW159 Wildcat and Sea King helicopter fleets.
Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, UK MOD, said: 'Our fleet of Merlin helicopters has benefitted from considerable investment by the MOD through major upgrades in recent years. This new contract will ensure we can continue to deliver flexible capability to meet the needs of our armed forces, as well as excellent value for money for the taxpayer. In addition, the contract will sustain more than 1,000 jobs, which will maintain vital engineering skills in the defence sector.'
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