New Medium Helicopter competition remains “sensitive”, says UK MoD

In the wake of the UK’s announced defence cuts on ageing rotorcraft, the question of whether the UK will have adequate capacity to meet growing threats has been raised following further concerns over the timeline of its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme.

Now, the general secretary of UK Union Unite has called on UK Secretary of Defence John Healey to act on the UK government’s commitment to build the NMH programme at Leonardo’s site in Yeovil. The site supports 2,800 employed workers, with thousands more operating as contractors or within its supply chain.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These are highly skilled workers and a further delay in awarding this contract would have disastrous consequences for the long-term future of this factory.

Related Articles

UK's New Medium Helicopter programme faces further uncertainty due to potential Airbus H145 procurement

In focus: UK New Medium Helicopter programme down to one bidder

“We have had the government’s statement of intent for the defence sector – now we need to see some action.”

Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) insisted that there are no plans to change the tender programme for the NMH.

In a Q&A response to Parliament on 9 December 2024, Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry, said that the New Medium Helicopter contract award would be finalised in the first half of 2025.

She also added that the competition “remains sensitive”, with no further details able to be confirmed before the evaluation and approval process completes.

In a statement to Shephard, Adam Clarke, managing director at Leonardo Helicopters UK, said: “We are very positive about the progress of the New Medium Helicopter competition and are in close contact with the Ministry of Defence as they proceed with the evaluation and approval process.

“The requirement is well established; the Minister has confirmed that the competition remains on track and we are confident in our offer. Our talented, passionate and highly-skilled people stand ready to provide our AW149 from Yeovil, the home of British helicopters.”

What is the status of the New Medium Helicopter programme so far?

Leonardo, with its AW149 design, remains the sole bidder on the contract, after Airbus and Sikorsky made a surprise exit from the bid in late-August 2024. The NMH is intended to replace the UK Armed Forces’ ageing Puma fleet – with timelines projected as early as 2025.

The MoD has previously said that it intends to procure up to 44 medium-lift helicopters. Shephard was told in April 2024, however, that the number would be unlikely to exceed 35.

Delays and concerns over the NMH programme have been previously reported, following the procurement of six H145 rotorcraft by the UK in April 2024. However, the MoD insists that the proposal will be evaluated next year.

Since the Defence Secretary confirmed in November that the Puma helicopters would be among the UK Armed Forces’ assets on the chopping block, it has been confirmed by the MoD that the remaining Puma helicopters serving in Cyprus and Brunei would be retired in March 2025.

What does that mean for filling the capability gap?

In a response to MP James Cartlidge’s question on the potential impact the defence cuts might have on the progress of the New Medium Helicopter programme, Eagle said: “The decision to retire the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters and remaining Puma helicopters has no impact on the New Medium Helicopter procurement process.”

Responding to a question about potential capability gaps following the Puma’s retirement on 10 December 2024, Eagle also claimed that any capability gap in Cyprus and Brunei would be “fulfilled by another platform or mitigated by other means” before the introduction of the H145 from 2026.

The platform replacement that would serve as a stop gap was not disclosed, however, and no further information was given as to what these “other means” might be, leaving a gap of at least a year between the Puma’s retirement and the introduction of the H145 to the Royal Air Forces’ fleets in Brunei and Cyprus.

Related Programmes in Defence Insight

New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

H145