GE Aerospace has been selected to supply the CT7-2E1 engines that will power the 23 AW149 helicopters acquired by the UK Ministry of Defence through the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program.
The decision resolves one of the project’s final outstanding issues. Launched in 2021, the program ultimately led to the selection of Leonardo’s aircraft to replace the Puma HC2 helicopters, which were retired in 2025 after decades of service.
Designed for military transport and support missions, the AW149 can carry up to 16 fully equipped soldiers and has a range of approximately 926 kilometers. The British government selected the model because of its ability to perform different types of missions previously divided among three separate fleets, which is expected to reduce training, maintenance, and logistics costs over the coming years.
The selection of the CT7-2E1 also brings operational advantages. The engine belongs to the T700/CT7 family, which is already used by the UK Armed Forces, allowing spare parts, maintenance procedures, and technical team training to be shared. In addition, the model has already accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours in service and was developed with a modular architecture, making repairs in the field easier.
In addition to supplying the engines, GE will support industrial and social initiatives required under British legislation. Part of the production and maintenance work will be carried out at facilities in the United Kingdom, strengthening local industry and improving the AW149’s export prospects. The government believes the aircraft could attract new international customers, with the potential to generate contracts worth more than £15 billion over the next decade.
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Source: Defence Blog | Photos: Leonardo UK | GE Aerospace | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
