UK Ministry of Defence awards £41-million rotary support contract to HeliOperations
The five-year contract will provide rotary-wing support to the Royal Navy
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded HeliOperations a £41-million, five-year Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) contract to provide rotary-wing support to the Royal Navy.
HeliOperations specializes in providing helicopter training for search and rescue (SAR) and maritime aviation to military and civilian organizations. Its headquarters are based at the former Naval Air Station of RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) in Dorset, and it also has additional sites in Somerton, Somerset, and Culdrose, Cornwall. Under the FHSU contract, the company will provide two Leonardo AW139 helicopters, along with technical support, maintenance, pilots, and crew, to Navy Command in support of training for UK and NATO operations.
The aircraft will replace a single Dauphin N2 and will operate from Portland from spring 2026, following a transition period. The AW139s will support Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) and other aviation tasks, including personnel and equipment transfer to Royal Navy vessels at sea.
The medium twin-engine platform, produced by Leonardo Helicopters, offers greater payload, extended range, improved pilot visibility, and the capability to continue flight after a single engine failure.
The contract will create 15 new jobs and sustain 80 existing roles, with options to extend the agreement until 2036.
Mark Langrill, Director Air Rotary and Uncrewed Air Systems at DE&S, commented: “We are delighted to award this contract to HeliOperations. The agreement will provide the Royal Navy with modern, reliable helicopter support, whilst supporting skilled jobs and economic growth in southwest England, reinforcing our commitment to working with small, high-end British enterprises that deliver for our armed forces.”
HeliOperations CEO Steve Gladston described the contract as “an important milestone” in the company’s development, enabling the expansion of its AW139 fleet, investment in infrastructure, and the growth of its workforce.
HeliOperations recently announced plans to construct new facilities at its Portland base, including a hangar, office space, and an indoor training area.