Italy-UK PARTNERSHIP

PARTNERSHIP | Spring 2019 06 Leonardo: world-class security technology in the UK An interview with Chris Bushell about the role of Leonardo in the UK L eonardo is the largest Italian inward investor to the UK, the largest inward investor in the UK defence sector and one of the biggest suppliers of technology to the UK Ministry of Defence. Alongside the wider national defence industry, Leonardo’s British business underpins the security of the UK and also acts as an engine of prosperity for the wider economy. Chris Bushell, Leonardo in the UK’s Director of Government Affairs, outlines some of the challenges and opportunities facing the Company. ICC: How does Leonardo see its role in the UK? CB : Leonardo has around 7,000 employees in the UK, designing, manufacturing and selling products and services that range from complete helicopters to advanced electronics like the system that protects the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. We have a major presence around the UK, with our main sites in Basildon, Bristol, Edinburgh, Lincoln, Luton, Southampton and Yeovil.  A key area in which Leonardo is generating value in the UK is through inventing unique technology (often referred to as ‘Intellectual Property’ or IP). This is then developed into complex systems and sold to domestic customers such as the UK Armed Forces and Police as well as being exported abroad. A notable example is Leonardo’s Edinburgh-based radar business, which has seen major success around the world. We count 30 countries as customers for our Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA, sometimes called ‘E-scan’) radar technology and we re-invest a significant amount of profit from these contracts in UK-based research and development. Another area in which Leonardo is a world leader is helicopters, with our UK-designed and built AW159 in service with UK Armed Forces as well as being exported to other countries including South Korea and the Philippines. Our AW101 helicopter has also been a market success, having been adopted by UK Forces and recently purchased by Norway for search and rescue missions.  As well as our airborne electronics and helicopters, Leonardo in the UK has a strong land and naval business, supporting the British Army with equipment such as the Bowman Personal Role Radio (PRR) and Guardian counter-IED system and the Royal Navy with communications systems. Notably, the thermal imaging technology developed at our Southampton and Basildon sites is world-leading: as well as having military and space applications, our Infra-Red detection sensors and cameras are also used in counter-drone systems such as those used to protect airports and have even been employed in the creation of BBC wildlife documentaries such as Winterwatch. ICC: Team Tempest, a project to develop the future combat aircraft for the UK, is one of the most exciting national programmes. As a founding team member of the programme, how is Leonardo contributing? CB : Tempest is a once-in-a-generation project and I am delighted that the UK Government has chosen Leonardo as one of the four key companies playing such an integral role in the development of the UK’s combat air capabilities. Specifically, as the UK’s national champion for advanced defence electronics, Leonardo will lead developments relating to complex, latest-generation sensor, data and communications systems technologies. Leonardo’s contribution to Team