Helis, September 03, 2024 - Prior to the bid deadline at midnight on August 30, both Airbus and Lockheed Martin announced their withdrawal from the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program.
The UK Department of Defence (DoD) launched the NMH program in 2021 to replace the Royal Air Force (RAF) Puma HC.2 and Bell 412 helicopters, as well as the British Army’s Bell 212 and AS365 Dauphins.
In February 2024, the DoD issued an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to three bidders: Airbus with the H175M, Lockheed Martin with the UH-60M Black Hawk, and Leonardo with the AW149.
Each company proposed local industrial benefits, forming alliances such as "Team AW149 UK," the "H175M Task Force", and "Team Black Hawk UK" to bolster domestic industry.
The initial requirement was for 44 helicopters with a proposed budget of GBP 1 billion, although at that time, all three companies were offering significantly fewer aircraft to other countries for the same amount.
In May 2024, the decision was made to procure Airbus H145s to replace the Bell 212/412 helicopters currently in service in Cyprus and Brunei. Weeks later, the number of helicopters required for the NMH program was adjusted to a minimum 23.
On the day the bids were due, the companies issued statements
Airbus announcement stated, “Together with our partners we have concluded that we are unable to formulate a responsible bid that would in parallel satisfy the customer’s requirements and provide adequate long-term returns to the business while implying a reasonable prospect of winning. We believe that the outcome of this procurement as it stands would not be able to deliver on current defence-industrial strategy objectives, particularly its ambition for long-term new jobs, opportunities for the UK supply chain and sovereign capability. We continue to believe the H175M is the right helicopter for the UK, providing the best combination of cost effectiveness, capability and value to UK society, but have concluded that continued pursuit of the NMH opportunity cannot be justified. Reluctantly, we have taken the decision to withdraw from the competition.”
Lockheed Martin UK stated the same day, “We believe that Black Hawk remains the best solution both for the UK armed forces and UK industry and continue to collaborate with UK MoD to support its refresh of the wider UK Rotary Wing Strategy, but have elected not to submit a response to the New Medium Helicopter ITN [invitation to negotiate] as we could not meet its minimum requirements in today’s market conditions.”
Adam Clarke, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters UK said “Further to the statement from the Minister for Defence Procurement that tender returns are due back on 30 August, Leonardo has submitted a bid that is fully compliant with the UK MOD’s requirements on budget, number of platforms and timeline. Because we have an established UK onshore helicopter design and manufacturing capability and a related domestic supply chain, we have been able to meet the MOD’s requirements, including for social value and UK industrial contribution.”
At this point, the future of the NMH program is uncertain, as the Ministry of Defence may choose not to proceed with a single bidder
The UK Department of Defence (DoD) launched the NMH program in 2021 to replace the Royal Air Force (RAF) Puma HC.2 and Bell 412 helicopters, as well as the British Army’s Bell 212 and AS365 Dauphins.
In February 2024, the DoD issued an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to three bidders: Airbus with the H175M, Lockheed Martin with the UH-60M Black Hawk, and Leonardo with the AW149.
Each company proposed local industrial benefits, forming alliances such as "Team AW149 UK," the "H175M Task Force", and "Team Black Hawk UK" to bolster domestic industry.
The initial requirement was for 44 helicopters with a proposed budget of GBP 1 billion, although at that time, all three companies were offering significantly fewer aircraft to other countries for the same amount.
In May 2024, the decision was made to procure Airbus H145s to replace the Bell 212/412 helicopters currently in service in Cyprus and Brunei. Weeks later, the number of helicopters required for the NMH program was adjusted to a minimum 23.
On the day the bids were due, the companies issued statements
Airbus announcement stated, “Together with our partners we have concluded that we are unable to formulate a responsible bid that would in parallel satisfy the customer’s requirements and provide adequate long-term returns to the business while implying a reasonable prospect of winning. We believe that the outcome of this procurement as it stands would not be able to deliver on current defence-industrial strategy objectives, particularly its ambition for long-term new jobs, opportunities for the UK supply chain and sovereign capability. We continue to believe the H175M is the right helicopter for the UK, providing the best combination of cost effectiveness, capability and value to UK society, but have concluded that continued pursuit of the NMH opportunity cannot be justified. Reluctantly, we have taken the decision to withdraw from the competition.”
Lockheed Martin UK stated the same day, “We believe that Black Hawk remains the best solution both for the UK armed forces and UK industry and continue to collaborate with UK MoD to support its refresh of the wider UK Rotary Wing Strategy, but have elected not to submit a response to the New Medium Helicopter ITN [invitation to negotiate] as we could not meet its minimum requirements in today’s market conditions.”
Adam Clarke, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters UK said “Further to the statement from the Minister for Defence Procurement that tender returns are due back on 30 August, Leonardo has submitted a bid that is fully compliant with the UK MOD’s requirements on budget, number of platforms and timeline. Because we have an established UK onshore helicopter design and manufacturing capability and a related domestic supply chain, we have been able to meet the MOD’s requirements, including for social value and UK industrial contribution.”
At this point, the future of the NMH program is uncertain, as the Ministry of Defence may choose not to proceed with a single bidder
Comments | Join community |
| Awesome machines! |
| 🙏 |
| Airbus is back in |
| Now there is a surprise and the MOD is left with what? More r from Italy that costs 4 times the amount that leaks, smokes and totally undeveloped as a military helicopter. If and sadly probably when the government force these machines, just for a few votes, on the military. God help those that have to rely on them. |
See also |
UK NMH
AW149 NMH in
AgustaWestland UK Black Hawk NMH in
StandardAero UK H175M in
Airbus Helicopters UK 
