Britain’s new warhorse: Why the AW149 helicopter beat the competition

The UK has selected the Leonardo AW149 to replace the legendary Puma after more than 50 years of service.

Built by Leonardo in Yeovil, the 23 new medium-lift helicopters will boost battlefield capability, support humanitarian missions, and secure 3,300 UK jobs. With advanced autonomous features and rapid deployment capability, the AW149 marks a major upgrade for Britain’s Armed Forces — and a big step forward for UK defence manufacturing.