Parish Councils Write to Secretary of State for Defence Urging Immediate NMH Decision
Parish Councils Write to Secretary of State for Defence Urging Immediate NMH Decision
Yeovil Without Parish Council has formally written to John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence, calling for the immediate award of the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract to Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil.
The letter, sent on 20 February 2026, has been submitted on behalf of Yeovil Without Parish Council and the undersigned parish councils in the surrounding area. It is written in full support of recent correspondence from Adam Dance and echoes the position set out separately by Yeovil Town Council.
Securing Jobs, Skills and Sovereign Capability
The parish councils are urging the Government to decouple the NMH contract from the Defence Investment Plan and make an immediate award to Leonardo in Yeovil.
Leonardo is now the sole remaining bidder for the NMH programme. Continued delay has created prolonged uncertainty for the workforce and the wider community. The Yeovil site directly supports more than 3,000 highly skilled jobs, with a further 12,000 jobs sustained across the regional supply chain, contributing an estimated £320 million annually to the local economy.
The letter stresses that Yeovil is the UK’s last remaining end-to-end military helicopter manufacturing site. Parish councils have expressed deep concern that further delay could risk closure of the facility, resulting not only in significant job losses but also the erosion of specialist engineering skills, apprenticeships and training pathways built over generations.
National Security and Community Identity
Beyond the local economic impact, the letter highlights the national importance of maintaining sovereign, onshore helicopter manufacturing capability at a time of increasing global uncertainty. The ability to design, build, maintain and upgrade helicopters within the UK is described as essential to national security and operational resilience.
For many residents, helicopter manufacturing is central to Yeovil’s identity. The councils note that almost every household in the area has a direct or historic connection to the site, and that Leonardo remains one of the most valued and sought-after employers locally.
A Call for Urgent Action
The parish councils have asked the Secretary of State to commit clearly to supporting a British-built medium lift helicopter capability and to award the NMH contract to Leonardo in Yeovil without further delay.
The full text of the letter can be downloaded below
