London, Aug. 31 – The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence is preparing a competitive £37 million support deal to reinforce UK helicopter forces with contracted engineering, logistics and enabling personnel. The requirement covers the Support Helicopter Force and Commando Helicopter Force at RAF Odiham, RAF Benson and RNAS Yeovilton, addressing constrained military capacity in aviation engineering, logistics, information systems, airworthiness records and supply. A pipeline notice issued on 28 August 2026 confirmed an enduring need for suitably qualified personnel to supplement Service staff and sustain aircraft availability.
The planned contract is expected to run from 1 November 2027 to 31 October 2032, with an option to extend until October 2034, and carries an estimated value of £37 million excluding VAT. The Ministry of Defence intends to use a competitive flexible procedure, with the formal tender notice anticipated on 1 December 2026. Structured as an output-based personnel support arrangement rather than a fixed-post model, the deal will not transfer authority for directing or assuring Defence outputs.
Support Helicopter Force operations centre on heavy and medium battlefield lift from RAF Odiham and RAF Benson, while the Commando Helicopter Force at RNAS Yeovilton delivers aviation support to Royal Marines and littoral missions. Contractor teams will help shift scarce engineering and logistics resources as flying programmes, maintenance activity, readiness cycles and future capability transitions change across the three sites.
No guaranteed volume of tasking will be provided; historic data and output schedules remain indicative only. The procurement encompasses helicopter repair, maintenance support and air transport services and is considered suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as voluntary organisations seeking UK defence contracts.