DSEI 2021: Leonardo signs SPA for air platform protection

Leonardo has signed a strategic partnering arrangement (SPA) with the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), Defence Equipment & Support organisation, and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) under which the company's UK business will advance the development of a common set of air platform self-protection capabilities.

As the United Kingdom's principal supplier of airborne defensive aids systems (DAS), Leonardo already provides airborne self-protection equipment for many UK military aircraft from its sites in Edinburgh and Luton. These include Typhoon fighters, Shadow R2 surveillance aircraft, and the RAF's new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, plus the majority of the UK's helicopter fleet, such as the Wildcat, Merlin, and Apache.

Under the SPA, Leonardo will work alongside the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), Dstl, and other UK industry partners to further develop platform-level integrated self-protection systems based on the company's Modular Advanced Platform Protection System (MAPPS) controller. In addition, the SPA will see the MoD support Leonardo in promoting UK air platform protection capabilities for export to partner nations.