Leonardo, the Italian defense giant, gains ground Business Square title up more than 2%, thanks to a new contract international: the Saudi Arabian Navy ordered four C-27J Spartan Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Mpa), intended to strengthen operational capabilities in maritime, search and rescue and tactical transport missions.
The C-27J Spartan are multi-mission tactical aircraft designed to counter submarine and surface threats, perform search and rescue missions and support transport and airdrop. deliveries they will leave in 2029, making Saudi Arabia the twenty-first operator of the C-27J worldwide. The contract also includes the first integration of armament for maritime operations, expanding the operational capabilities of the Saudi Navy and further strengthening the relationship with Leonardo, already consolidated with the previous order of 2025 of two C-27Js dedicated to firefighting, transport and medical evacuation.
The UK contract: Sonus and new job opportunities
At the same time, Leonardo also achieved important results in UKThe British subsidiary has obtained from the UK Ministry of Defence an £18,3 million deal for the supply of the passive acoustic detection system Sonus, part of the Serpens project. The system allows the British Army to precisely locate enemy mortars and artillery thanks to advanced processing of sound waves generated by weapons and explosions. The contract includes 250 new jobs in the UK, concentrated primarily at the Basildon plant, and involving approximately 30 local SMEs. The initiative is part of the largest increase in British military spending since the end of the Cold War, set to reach 2,6% of GDP by 2027.
