£879M Apache and Chinook helicopters contract supports more than 1,200 UK jobs
Published 15 April 2026
The National Armaments Director (NAD) Group has awarded an £879 million, three-year contract under the Rotary Wing Enterprise (RWE) for the integrated in-service support of British Army AH64E Apache and RAF Chinook HC helicopters, supporting over 700 highly skilled jobs in the UK and a further 500 across the supply chain.
The new, long-term support contract awarded to Boeing Defence UK, which is part of the group that manufacture both aircraft, will ensure the continued operational readiness of the AH64E Apache and Chinook fleets. Together, they are central to UK battlefield effectiveness. The Apache provides the Army's crewed attack capability, while the Chinook supports multi-service operations as the RAF's heavy-lift helicopter.
Boeing Defence UK will deliver maintenance, technical services, logistical support and Apache aircrew, ground and maintainer training for the critical rotary wing platforms. The extension covers the existing Apache agreement, while integrating the support for Chinook helicopters delivered under one enterprise framework for greater efficiency, operational outputs and long-term resilience.
The deal will sustain over 700 jobs within Boeing Defence UK across the UK, including locations at Middle Wallop, Wattisham, Odiham, Bristol, Gosport, Yeovil, and Almondbank, reinforcing the Government's commitment to making defence an engine for economic growth and ensuring investment in UK defence capability translates into opportunity for British workers and industry. Approximately 500 direct jobs will be sustained across the UK supply chain, including 300 roles at UK-based partner StandardAero, with plans to increase apprenticeships to as many as 50 over the next three years.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:
“From the workshop to the frontline, this investment delivers for our military, for the British people and the British defence industry. Our workhorse Chinooks and lethal Apaches help keep our Armed Forces safe and operating effectively while on deployment. This contract shows how we’re ensuring our Armed Forces have the kit and equipment they need to keep Britain safe. We are investing record levels into defence, meaning no return to the hollowed out and underfunded Armed Forces of the past, while making defence an engine for growth.”
The RWE represents a modern approach to managing complex defence support contracts. Consolidating the contracts under one framework will improve operational coherence, reduce duplication and deliver better value for taxpayers.
Air Commodore Gareth Bryant, Former Head Helicopters 2 at the NAD Group, said:
“This contract extension is a significant milestone, delivering the first iteration of the Rotary Wing Enterprise intent to improve support to our platforms. Bringing Chinook and Apache support together under one coherent arrangement will strengthen the way we sustain these vital platforms for the Army and RAF, and is great news for the highly skilled workforce that supports them. We are proud to deliver the next stage of our long-term partnership with Boeing Defence UK and the wider supply chain.”
Boeing Defence UK has been a long-standing partner in supporting the UK's rotary wing fleet. The extension builds on an established relationship and reflects the Government's wider approach to sustaining strategic defence partnerships while driving continuous improvement in capability and value.
Sir Jeremy Quin, President of Boeing UK & Ireland, said:
“This contract highlights the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining a world-class rotary wing capability and strengthening the country’s defence industrial base,” said Sir Jeremy Quin, President of Boeing UK & Ireland. “It will help ensure our armed forces remain equipped to meet both current and future operational challenges with confidence and resilience.”
The announcement aligns with the Government's Plan for Change, which identifies defence as a key driver of economic growth and with the Strategic Defence Review's focus on sovereign capability and long-term investment in the UK's armed forces.
The contract also supports the Government's ambition to see Defence spending rise to 2.5% of GDP, and its commitment to strengthening national security and generating lasting economic benefits across the country.
