Heli-One partners with Airbus for UK MoD's New Medium Helicopter programme
The Airbus H175M medium helicopter is being offered to meet a billion-dollar UK requirement. (Photo: Airbus)
Heli-One is partnering with Airbus to provide gearbox maintenance services for the H175M helicopter if Airbus wins the UK MoD's New Medium Helicopter competition.
Heli-One has stepped into the ring for the billion-dollar UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement by signing a deal with Airbus to provide gearbox maintenance services for the latter company’s offering, the H175M multirole helicopter.
The two companies joined forces for the bid after signing an MoU on 12 July. Heli-One has a heritage of working with the UK RAF, providing embedded support and maintenance for the Makila engines used in the existing Airbus Puma HC2 fleet, one of the aircraft types being replaced through NMH. Heli-One already has two staff stationed at RAF Benson.
Carolyn Forsyth, general manager of sales, commercial and customer support at Heli-One, said the company had ‘experience in operating and supporting the civil H175 helicopter in challenging environments, and [is] well placed to enhance the reliability and performance of the new, modern and versatile H175M for NMH’.
Related Articles
UK to buy up to 44 aircraft under draft plan for New Medium Helicopter acquisition
Updated: UK New Medium Helicopter bidders ready to move as soon as MoD confirms timeline
NMH is set to be a bruising competition with Airbus facing off against the Leonardo Helicopters AW149 and Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk in a requirement to provide 44 helicopters as part of a deal potentially worth $1.1 billion, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
Three other aircraft – Boeing/Leonardo’s MH139, Bell Helicopter Textron’s 525 Relentless and refurbished UH-60L/M Black Hawks – fell by the wayside in November 2022 after being eliminated.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
