Aviation and Airlines (Commonwealth Union) _ The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently made adjustments to the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program, reducing the maximum number of aircraft to be acquired to 35 units. This decision was influenced by funding constraints, and the MoD has requested industry participants to work within the 25-35 range based on the available funding. However, it should be noted that a contract notice issued in May 2022 still includes the requirement for 44 helicopters, as stated by the MoD.
The primary objective of the NMH program is to replace the Puma helicopters and other smaller rotary fleets currently in service within the UK’s inventory. Unfortunately, delays have occurred, resulting in the postponement of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) phase, which was originally scheduled for early 2023. The ITN phase is now expected to commence no earlier than September 2023, during which the complete requirements and associated costs will be defined.
While the MoD has provided initial requirements pertaining to capability, performance, and engineering support to the industry, specific details regarding training requirements and other aspects have yet to be disclosed. Competing companies such as Airbus, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin have been instructed by the MoD to prepare for testing and compliance using defensive aid kits.
Airbus, in particular, has outlined plans to establish an H175M helicopter production line in Broughton, Wales, which could potentially lead to opportunities for export sales. Although the retirement of the Puma fleet was initially anticipated for 2025, there have been suggestions of extending it to 2027 or 2028. Despite potential shifts in production timelines, Airbus remains confident in its ability to swiftly establish production at the Broughton facility.
