MILTON, Florida. September 18, 2025. — Leonardo Helicopters celebrated the official grand opening of its new Florida Support Center on September 18 at Whiting Aviation Park in Santa Rosa County. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the company’s continued investment —now totalling $65 million— in U.S. military aviation support, civil helicopter services, and regional aerospace growth.
Located adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NAS Whiting Field), the new facility is purpose-built to deliver maintenance, logistics, and sustainment support for the U.S. Navy’s fleet of TH-73A «Thrasher» training helicopters (Navy Advanced Helicopter Training System), while also expanding Leonardo’s award-winning customer support services to its civil operators base across the southeastern United States. The Florida Support Center will operate as a strategic hub to enhance aircraft availability and readiness across military and civil missions.
Now fully operational under a FAA Part 145 certificate, the Leonardo Florida Support Center is ready to serve both operators and suppliers with responsive, U.S.-based support.
The event was attended by a distinguished group of guests, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Space Florida CEO Robert Long, military leaders, and elected officials from local, state, and federal government. Clyde Woltman, the CEO of Leonardo Helicopters USA, presided over the ceremony and gave remarks.
Leonardo Helicopters photo.
«This facility reflects the power of partnership,» said Clyde Woltman, CEO of Leonardo Helicopters in the USA «With its proximity to NAS Whiting Field, we’re proud to offer world-class sustainment for the TH-73A program while expanding support for civil operators in the region. None of this would be possible without the shared vision of Santa Rosa County, Space Florida, Triumph Gulf Coast, the U.S. Navy, and our many community partners. Together, we’ve built more than a facility—we’ve built a foundation for mission success.»
The Florida Support Center builds on Leonardo’s longstanding U.S. presence, further enhancing local access to the company’s proven support and sustainment capabilities. The award of the TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training System contract added to that momentum, reinforcing Leonardo’s commitment to delivering mission support, training, and logistics where U.S. operators need them most.
This investment is expected to create skilled jobs, bolster the regional aerospace supply chain, and enhance vertical lift readiness for years to come. Already, the Florida Support Center has created 36 jobs, with continued growth expected as demand for sustainment and training services expands. It also cements Whiting Aviation Park’s role as a vital hub for aviation excellence and innovation in Northwest Florida.
Spanning 73,000 square feet, the facility is equipped to support both military and civil rotorcraft operations. It will provide Leonardo’s industry-leading customer support and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The facility includes a full-sized paint booth, a dynamic test bench for transmission repair, a warehouse for spare parts, and all associated tooling and fixtures. These capabilities allow Leonardo to deliver high-quality, localized maintenance and support—helping operators reduce downtime, extend aircraft life, and maintain peak mission readiness.
“Florida continues to lead in aerospace and defense innovation,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Leonardo’s Support Center is not only a win for our state’s economy — it’s a commitment to future military readiness and workforce development. We welcome this partnership in the Sunshine State.”
In addition to supporting the Navy’s TH-73A «Thrasher» fleet, the facility expands sustainment access for Leonardo’s civil customers operating in law enforcement, SAR, EMS, utility, and VIP/corporate transport roles. Key customers in Florida include Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Monroe County Fire Rescue & Sheriff’s Department, the Healthcare District of Palm Beach County, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, through its Florida Forest Service. Its dualuse design reflects Leonardo Company’s global-to-local strategy, combining world-class expertise with responsive, U.S.-based solutions.
This latest move further strengthens Leonardo’s ability to deliver comprehensive critical support solutions, adding to a global network of more than 100 helicopter support centers, and is in line with Leonardo’s support strategy based on advanced capabilities and proximity to deliver the level of responsiveness, effectiveness, and safety its operators base requires and deserves.
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