Leonardo wins long-term contract to secure critical aircraft parts for RAF and Army fleets
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Leonardo UK an initial £27 million contract to supply essential spare parts for the nation’s military aircraft, in a deal that could be worth up to £70 million over seven years.
The agreement covers the procurement and management of around 11,000 NATO-standard aircraft components used across the UK's fixed-wing and rotary-wing fleets, including aircraft currently supporting operations in the Middle East.
Under the Aircraft Consumables Commodities (ACC) contract, Leonardo will oversee forecasting, procurement and lifecycle management of thousands of routinely used parts, ranging from rivets and washers to cable ties and protective equipment. The company will also manage stock availability and tackle equipment obsolescence to help maintain operational readiness.
The contract supports key military platforms including Typhoon fighter jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, A400M transport aircraft and C-17 strategic airlifters.
Initially valued at £27 million over three years, the deal includes options for four annual extensions, potentially increasing its total value to £70 million. The programme is expected to support around 75 jobs across the UK defence sector.
Defence officials say the contract introduces a more efficient supply-chain model by centralising inventory management at depot level rather than distributing consumables directly to individual units. The approach is designed to reduce complexity, improve responsiveness and strengthen resilience across the armed forces’ aviation fleet.
The Ministry of Defence said the investment forms part of wider efforts to sustain military readiness while supporting growth in the domestic defence industry.
The contract comes as the UK continues to prioritise operational availability across its air fleet amid ongoing NATO commitments and overseas deployments. Photo by Andysmith248, Wikimedia commons.
