Leonardo has selected GE Aerospace to supply the engines for 23 AW149 helicopters being delivered under the UK Ministry of Defence’s New Medium Helicopter program.
Under the agreement, GE Aerospace will provide its CT7-2E1 engines, along with spare engines, parts, long-term services, and other support.
Its modular design allows operators to service individual engine modules in the field rather than sending the entire system to a maintenance depot.
Introducing the CT7-2E1 into the UK military inventory will also provide some commonality with the T700/CT7 engine family, a variant of which is already in British service.
Work linked to the program will extend across several UK sites. StandardAero’s Gosport facility will support the building, maintenance, and overhaul of CT7-2E1 engines, including units for potential future exports, while Barnes Aerospace will manufacture engine components at its Newton Abbot facility.
More than 300 CT7-2E1 engines have been delivered worldwide, accumulating over 500,000 flight hours, according to the company.
UK’s New Medium Helicopter Program
The engine selection follows the 1-billion-pound ($1.3-billion) UK contract awarded to Leonardo in February for 23 AW149 helicopters and four training simulators.
Production will take place at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility in Somerset, with the program expected to support around 3,300 jobs across the UK.
Under the agreement, Leonardo has also committed to building future international military orders in the UK with a British workshare of more than 40 percent.
The government has identified potential AW149 export opportunities worth more than 15 billion pounds ($20.1 billion) over the next decade.
