STORY
The Ministry of Defence has awarded Leonardo UK an initial £27 million contract to supply essential consumable spares for military aircraft across the UK’s fixed-wing and rotary-wing fleet. The contract could be worth up to £70 million over seven years and will support 75 jobs in the UK defence industry.
The Aircraft Consumables Commodities contract covers around 11,000 NATO Stock Numbers, including parts and materials used to keep aircraft operational. The aircraft covered include Typhoon fighter jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, and A400M and C-17 transport aircraft, some of which are currently deployed on live operations in the Middle East.
The MOD said the contract will give Leonardo responsibility for forecasting, procurement, stock management and obsolescence management for essential spares. Defence minister Luke Pollard said the investment would help maintain aircraft used to protect the UK and support operations overseas, while the MOD said the new system would provide a more efficient model for managing spares across defence aviation.