Leonardo is outlining a long-term future for its UK military helicopter portfolio, with the AW101 Merlin and Wildcat HMA2 expected to remain central to its rotorcraft business. The outlook is forward-looking rather than tied to any immediate procurement decision, but it points to continued support and service planning for both types.
Wildcat HMA2 is expected to stay in service well into the next decade, signalling sustained sustainment and upgrade activity around the Royal Navy and Army helicopter fleets. Merlin’s longer-term role is also part of Leonardo’s broader portfolio planning, although the exact wording of the company’s Merlin strategy is not fully visible in the available material.
The wider context is Leonardo’s 2026-2030 industrial plan, which frames rotorcraft within a growth-oriented group strategy rather than as a stand-alone fleet issue. For the UK market, that means expectations remain focused on through-life support, capability improvement and industrial work linked to two of the country’s most important helicopter platforms.