The UK has awarded Leonardo UK a 27-million-pound ($36-million) contract to supply critical aircraft consumable spares for the country’s military fixed-wing and rotary-wing fleets.
Running for three years, the agreement includes four one-year extension options that could increase its value to 70 million pounds ($93 million).
Consumable spares covered under the deal range from blind rivets and washers to cable ties and face masks, helping maintain aircraft readiness.
Aircraft supported under the contract include Typhoon fighter jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, and A400M and C-17 transport aircraft, some of which are currently deployed on operations in the Middle East.
The contract is expected to support 75 jobs across the UK defense industry, primarily in Edinburgh, Coningsby, and Bristol.
“This investment will be crucial in maintaining the Royal Air Force aircraft that keep the UK safe at home and secure abroad, from defending NATO’s airspace from the Russian drone threat to protecting British citizens and partners in the Middle East,” UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said.
“We’re making sure the UK’s historic rise in defence spending is an engine for growth, boosting opportunities across the country including supporting 75 jobs through this contract.”
Hybrid Inventory Management
Under a hybrid inventory management model, Leonardo will proactively manage high-demand consumables while supplying lower-demand items on an as-needed basis.
Additional responsibilities include demand forecasting, stock procurement, maintenance planning, and obsolescence management.
The new arrangement centralizes consumable-spares management at the depot level rather than supplying individual units directly, improving efficiency, reducing complexity, and enhancing responsiveness across the UK’s military aviation fleet.
“Leonardo is proud to have been awarded the ACC (Aircraft Consumables Commodities) contract and to deepen our long-standing partnership with the MOD. This contract reflects our commitment to delivering reliable, innovative support solutions that keep the RAF’s aircraft mission ready,” Vice President of Support & Service Solutions UK at Leonardo, David Arrowsmith, said.
“By taking ownership of the full supply chain, from forecasting and procurement through to obsolescence management, we are best placed to provide the MOD with the responsiveness and efficiency that modern defence operations demand.”
