Britain handed Italian defence company Leonard a 165 million pound ($213 million) contract extension on Tuesday to maintain the Royal Navy’s fleet of 54 Merlin helicopters, a deal which it said would help support 1,000 jobs across the country. Britain, which plans to boost defence spending to 2.5% of economic output by 2027, said the deal with Leonardo would help bolster national security. “This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining cutting-edge defence capabilities that keep us safe, while utilising defence as an engine for economic growth,” Maria Eagle, the minister for defence procurement and industry, said in a statement. Leonardo is the prime contractor for the maintenance, with Lockheed Martin and Serco appointed sub-contractors, the government said. Post navigation Trump signs off Starmer’s plan to cede Chagos Islands British house prices stagnant in March, Nationwide says
