UK MoD Awards Leonardo £293M for Apache Integrated Operational Support

The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded Leonardo a £293 million ($379 million) contract to support the existing fleet of 50 Apache AH MK1 Attack Helicopters.

The Apache AH MK1 Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract will maintain the fleet until it’s out of service date in March 2024, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The IOS contract secured by Defence Equipment and Support, the MoD’s procurement agency, includes deep maintenance, repair and overhaul of the MK1 aircraft as well as the provision of technical and spares support. The contract has been awarded in three tranches, to maintain value for money, with this latest investment covering the final five years of the fleet in service.

The Apache MK1 in use currently will gradually be replaced by the Apache AH-64E aircraft that will begin entering service with the British Army in 2022. The new AH-64E model will have improved sensors and avionics.