September was dominated by the 2021 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London. At the event, we showcased our portfolio of cutting-edge, British-made capability sold around the world. Leonardo’s significant physical presence at the show revolved around the AW149 at the heart of our stand, symbolising our role as a key onshore defence company generating prosperity in the UK.

There were multiple successes for Leonardo announced at DSEI, including the new strategic partnering arrangement with the Ministry of Defence to develop Next Generation Air Survivability equipment for UK military aircraft, an announcement that the next stage of the Tempest flight test aircraft (FTA) programme, Excalibur, had been contracted, and an update on ICARUS, the Leonardo-led UK industry trial of new high-tech protection for Armed Forces vehicles.

Also at DSEI, Leonardo announced an intention to jointly pursue opportunities in the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) domain with Northrop Grumman, and that the company had integrated the US Air Force Research Laboratory’s NINJA technology into the Royal Air Force ORCUS counter-drone system. Earlier in September, we had revealed that Canada would be employing Leonardo’s Osprey radar in an environmental protection role, kick-starting a month of positive announcements.

In addition to this, several Leonardo experts spoke on various panels at the show, contributing to sessions covering the land, air, naval and cyber domains. Throughout the event, we were delighted to welcome guests and delegations from around the world to our stand, highlighting our work.

After DSEI, we were delighted to celebrate National Inclusion Week, as part of our on-going commitment to making inclusion an everyday reality. We invited colleagues to get involved with activities that would continue to foster an inclusive workplace and recognise the contribution that every single employee has to offer, in line with our ‘Every Voice is Valued’ theme this year. National Inclusion Week followed the launch of our Custom Working initiative, which empowers our teams to work together effectively, while continuing to focus on the needs of our colleagues and customers. Custom Working increases flexibility, an important aspect of nurturing an inclusive environment, particularly for employees with caring responsibilities, for example, who are represented by our Carers network group.

This month also saw Leonardo visit the RAF Museum at RAF Cosford for the Forces in STEM event, with Leonardo STEM ambassadors providing a Rampaging Chariots assault course for aspiring engineers to take on, in a much-anticipated return for the radio controlled robots.

We welcomed a new cohort of graduates in during the month, with another 75+ new recruits joining our programmes across the UK, from electronics in Edinburgh, to helicopters in Yeovil. Meanwhile, we were celebrating the achievements of colleagues at the start of their career with us, when a Leonardo team won the iMeche Apprentice Automation Challenge for the second year running! Team NextGen, formed of Leonardo apprentices, won the eighth edition of the annual challenge with their Reflex Mirror exercise product, following in the footsteps of 2020’s winners, Team Motus, from our Luton site.

At the end of the month, we attended the inaugural Spirit of Tempest Awards, alongside the RAF and our industry partners – BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and MBDA – at the Duxford Aerodrome. The awards recognise the contributions of those working across the Team Tempest enterprise. Leonardo’s Alex Robinson, Chief Systems Engineer and Multi-Function Radar Frequency System (MRFS) Chief Technical Officer, received an award for his commitment to working in close collaboration with partners and took to the air in a 1940 Harvard to celebrate his achievement.