The UK Defence Equipment & Support organisation (DE&S) has awarded a five-year Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU) contract to Dorset-based small/medium enterprise HeliOperations, DE&S announced on 8 August 2025.
The contract, which was placed in July 2025, will see HeliOperations flying a pair of contractor-owned Leonardo AW139 helicopters from Portland, Dorset, from the spring of 2026, enabling the transfer of personnel and equipment to naval vessels at sea and providing maritime rotary-wing support to Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) along with other aviation tasks. As well as the helicopters, the contract covers the provision of comprehensive technical support, maintenance, pilots and crew to Navy Command.
The contract, which could potentially be extended to 2036, is worth up to GBP 68 million (EUR 78.4 million), with DE&S noting that it will create 15 new jobs and sustain 80 existing roles.
The two twin-engined AW139 medium helicopters will replace a single Dauphin N2 currently performing the role.
“We are delighted to award this contract to HeliOperations,” Mark Langrill, director of Air Rotary & Uncrewed Air Systems at DE&S, was quoted as saying in a press release.” The agreement will provide the Royal Navy with modern, reliable helicopter support, whilst supporting skilled jobs and economic growth in Southwest England, reinforcing our commitment to working with small, high-end British enterprises that deliver for our armed forces.”
Steve Gladston, CEO of HeliOperations, added, “The FHSU contract is an important milestone for HeliOperations as part of our continuing development and growth. It provides the opportunity for further expansion of our fleet of AW139 helicopters, development of our infrastructure and greater opportunities for our staff whilst providing the Ministry of Defence with an efficient and effective service for the delivery of personnel and materiel to the fleet.”
HeliOperations’ AW139s will operate out of the former Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Portland, which was originally established by the Royal Navy in 1917 as a seaplane base to protect shipping from German U-boats during the First World War. RNAS Portland was closed on 31 March 1999 after FOST operations moved to Plymouth and HM Coastguard helicopter operations from the site were removed on 1 July 2017. However, HeliOperations, which had provided helicopter aircrew to HM Coastguard, took on control of the site, initially providing a refuelling facility for HM CoastGuard helicopters before developing its training business.
