Leonardo’s helicopter-sector orders rose 27.7% year on year to €6.234 billion in the first nine months of 2026, while revenue increased 5.4% to €4.317 billion. The segment reported a €16.934 billion order backlog and €347 million in EBITA, an 8% return on sales. The figures form part of the Italian group’s results for the period ended 30 September.
The UK Ministry of Defence’s contract for 23 AW149s under the New Medium Helicopter programme was among the period’s major helicopter orders. Leonardo also booked orders for 131 additional dual-use helicopters, mainly for export customers, and an extension to the UK Integrated Merlin Operational Support programme. Government customers accounted for 72% of helicopter orders, with commercial customers making up the remainder.
The segment’s order intake equated to a book-to-bill ratio of 1.4. Leonardo delivered 120 helicopters during the period, compared with 115 in the first nine months of 2025. The company’s results do not provide a delivery schedule for the €16.9 billion backlog.
Across the group, new orders reached €23.3 billion, up 27.8% year on year. Excluding the contribution of Iveco Defence Vehicles, the increase was 22.4% on a like-for-like basis.