Airbus shuns Chinese components for H175 with UK military programme in mind
The first H175 airframe with 100% European components. (Photo: Airbus Helicopters UK)
Latest H175 airframe includes exclusively European components.
Airbus Helicopters UK reports progress on construction of its first H175 airframe with components ‘built fully in Europe’, a company spokesperson noted on 14 June.
The airframe could be the first to be delivered (as the H175M) to the MoD under the UK New Medium Helicopter programme, if it is selected to replace 23 Puma HC2s and three other rotary-wing types in the mid-2020s.
The latest airframe ‘has been produced entirely free of any elements sourced from China as the result of a project that has been underway for the past five years, capitalising on European aerostructures capability’, the spokesperson added.
Colin James, MD of Airbus Helicopters UK, said: ‘We have built the first airframe using a supply base completely compliant with Western military requirements and we have identified multiple supplier sources who can provide the last two components of the complete helicopter which need to be replaced.’
He added that the H175M would be ‘fully capable of fulfilling the UK's NMH needs and of becoming a sustainable UK export product with the potential to resurrect the capacity and capability of the country's helicopter industry’.
A total of 26 civilian H175 helicopters are already in daily operations over the North Sea.
More from Air Warfare
-
![UK P-8 Poseidons to get Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedoes]()
UK P-8 Poseidons to get Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedoes
The UK MoD has confirmed the selection of the BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 torpedo as the future torpedo capability for its P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) fleet, alongside the US Navy's Mk54 weapon.
-
![Canada orders 14 Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft]()
Canada orders 14 Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft
Canada will purchase 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft to replace its ageing CP-140 Aurora fleet, joining Australia, New Zealand, US and UK as an operator of the aircraft type.
-
![Eurofighter Typhoon electronic combat aircraft set to replace German Tornadoes]()
Eurofighter Typhoon electronic combat aircraft set to replace German Tornadoes
Germany has given the green light to replace its Tornado ECR aircraft with Eurofighter Typhoon EK, a dedicated variant for electronic combat and SEAD.
-
![Spain signs deal with Airbus for SiRTAP MALE UAS]()
Spain signs deal with Airbus for SiRTAP MALE UAS
Spain’s MoD has signed a deal with Airbus for a new multirole UAS which will be ITAR-free and primarily designed for ISTAR operations. It has been planned for service with Spain, Colombia and Serbia.
-
![15 more KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuellers bound for USAF]()
15 more KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuellers bound for USAF
The US Air Force has ordered more Pegasus KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelling aircraft with advanced communications and data connectivity.
