Leonardo Lobbying for Puma Replacement to Secure Yeovil future
Thread Starter
Leonardo Lobbying for Puma Replacement to Secure Yeovil future
Telegraph 15NOV2020
Haven't seen this picked up elsewhere but it looks they are still pushing the AW149 as a replacement for the Puma fleet. Not sure if this a new story or a rehash of earlier ones. There is a perceived capability gap between the current Puma OSD of 2025 and any purchase resulting from the UK getting involved in the US FVL/FLRAA program(me). However, as I have said before my understanding was the UK Rotary Strategy included consolidating on fewer platforms. Following the AAC Apache D replacement decision does "The answer is Boeing what's the question?" now apply to RW. The RN won't be looking for a new platform until the mid 2030s so does this mean the end of UK OEM military RW is almost certain?
The new money isn't to fill the existing procurement budget shortfall but for Cyber and Space. So I don't see any funding for Puma replacement likely.
Helicopter jobs fears as Leonardo lobbies for UK order
Helicopter jobs fears as Leonardo lobbies for UK order
Leonardo highlights economic returns of buying from its Yeovil factory as it faces thinning order book
The long-term future of thousands of jobs building helicopters at Leonardo’s factory in Somerset hinges on the UK replacing its ageing fleet of medium helicopters, according to the defence company ...
The long-term future of thousands of jobs building helicopters at Leonardo’s factory in Somerset hinges on the UK replacing its ageing fleet of medium helicopters, according to the defence company ...
The new money isn't to fill the existing procurement budget shortfall but for Cyber and Space. So I don't see any funding for Puma replacement likely.
They'd be better off figuring out how to supply 12-16 Merlin HM variants quickly and cost-effectively. Which might support export orders off the back of them. We need more Merlin - the case for Puma is less clear.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,837
Received 2,806 Likes
on
1,195 Posts
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...early-setbacks
But in the comments...
If the AW149 is chosen by the MoD, production could be transferred to the legacy AgustaWestland factory in Yeovil, in southwest England, from the plant in Vergiate, Italy, and Leonardo hopes that a UK-buy could influence other possible buyers. “There are potential customers in the MENA region and in other areas. The truth is that if we can start to generate some interest from the UK customer they become a reference customer. A lot of countries follow what the UK does, which is why we see them as quite important at this time,” Whitney said.
Ian Corrigible
November 18, 2019 - 8:29am
Didn't Leonardo already commit to building the AW149 in Yeovil back in 2006, when it appointed the site as the home of its military division in exchange for securing the Future Lynx order? Per the Rotorhub report on the announcement at the time:
Giuseppe Orsi, CEO of Agusta, said that an AgustaWestland military division would be based in UK and that the “design, development and manufacture of the company’s latest military helicopter, the AW149 would be located in Yeovil.”
November 18, 2019 - 8:29am
Didn't Leonardo already commit to building the AW149 in Yeovil back in 2006, when it appointed the site as the home of its military division in exchange for securing the Future Lynx order? Per the Rotorhub report on the announcement at the time:
Giuseppe Orsi, CEO of Agusta, said that an AgustaWestland military division would be based in UK and that the “design, development and manufacture of the company’s latest military helicopter, the AW149 would be located in Yeovil.”
Thread Starter
What happened to the 12 unconverted airframes? Pre-Covid were the RN still struggling with aircrew retention like five years ago?
Last edited by SLXOwft; 20th Nov 2020 at 12:09. Reason: Insufficient gs
Four deregistered and in various locations (inc 2 at Yeovil apparently), plus eight in xmas-tree state in a Boscombe Down hangar. More trouble to rebuild rather than fix the systemic issues with new builds..
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: South
Age: 62
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE=Jn14:6;10930240]Yeah! The oldest is only a mere 50 years old![/Q
The remaining fleet was upgraded to HC.2 standard, only within the last 10 years, at an exorbidant cost. Some sources suggest the OSD could 'slide' 10 extra years though!
The remaining fleet was upgraded to HC.2 standard, only within the last 10 years, at an exorbidant cost. Some sources suggest the OSD could 'slide' 10 extra years though!
I think Leonardo may have played the same card too many times. The few marginal Limp Dumb constituencies are probably less valuable after the collapse of the red wall.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,837
Received 2,806 Likes
on
1,195 Posts
This is what you get in supposed “mergers” the greater partner “home team” sooner or later disposes of their previous competition.
I was the blade bay inspector at Middle Wallop. A team of 5 of us overhauled Lynx/Wildcat main & Tail blades (plus Gazelle) and we were churning out more blades than Yeovil site were/could. Out of the blue we got shut down and made redundant and “all work went to Yeovil”. One of the staff was an ex-Leonardos employee and kept in touch with his mates, who were still on the inside. They reported that there was a lot of sitting around by permies and the contractors picking up the workload.
I’m told it’s a strange place to work.
I’m told it’s a strange place to work.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,837
Received 2,806 Likes
on
1,195 Posts
They reported that there was a lot of sitting around by permies and the contractors picking up the workload.
It folded shortly afterwards.
[QUOTE=BTC8183;10930479]
They could probably have done a total swap for EC725s for less!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"The remaining fleet was upgraded to HC.2 standard, only within the last 10 years, at an exorbidant cost. Some sources suggest the OSD could 'slide' 10 extra years though!"
£400m for 20 aircraft which gave 10-14 yrs of extra service, whilst out-lifting the Merlin in Afghanistan was a bargain!
to re-engine the Merlin was around £800m...
£400m for 20 aircraft which gave 10-14 yrs of extra service, whilst out-lifting the Merlin in Afghanistan was a bargain!
to re-engine the Merlin was around £800m...
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
£400m for 20 aircraft which gave 10-14 yrs of extra service, whilst out-lifting the Merlin in Afghanistan was a bargain! Ok
They could probably have done a total swap for EC725s for less!