Westland and the British Helicopter Industry, 1945-1960: Licensed Production versus Indigenous Innovation

Between 1945 and 1960, British government policy was to foster an indigenous helicopter research capability. In parallel, Westland Aircraft Limited focused on licensed production of foreign helicopter technology developed in the USA. While other companies subsumed under British government industrial policy failed to enter commercial production, Westland, through the use of this alternative focus, emerged as Britain's sole helicopter manufacturer in 1960. This work shows how Westland dominated British helicopter production and why government funding and support failed to generate competitive "all-British" alternatives. The text evaluates historiographic assumptions about the purported "failure" of British aircraft procurement during the early post-war period as well as considering the scope and limitations of licensed production as a government-mandated procurement strategy.

Matthew R. H. Utley is a Senior Lecturer in the War Studies Group, King's College London, working at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham.