Farnborough Airshow: Jobs boost as AgustaWestland plans new long-range helicopter Britain's leading defence manufacturers, such as BAE Systems, have been hurt by UK public spending cuts, but Mr Cameron identified aerospace as a "real success story" for the economy. However, he warned that the rest of the world was "breathing down our necks" and the UK had to be "constantly alive to the competition." The Yeovil plant already makes rotor blades and AW169 helicopters ordered by British customers, but the majority of its aircraft are made in company plants outside the UK. However, the company, which is owned by Italian defence group Finmeccanica, plans to make Yeovil the lead global plant for production of the AW189. Mr Cole believes the factory will produce more than 200 aircraft for customers around the world, with manufacturing expected to start late next year. Of the new jobs created, 450 will be within the company and the rest in the supply chain. The last civil aircraft to be exported from Britain is understood to be BAE's Regional Aircraft in the 1990s. The AW189 is designed for use by search and rescue and passenger travel. It is in the running to win the Department for Transport's contract for British search and rescue helicopters. Meanwhile, US aircraft manufacturer Boeing scored the first blow in the battle at Farnborough with rival Airbus to land the most orders during the show. Boeing yesterday announced a firm order from Air Lease Corporation for 75 of its redesigned 737, called the 737 MAX, worth $7.2bn (£4.65bn).