Last Firm Standing For UK Helicopter Programme

Two of the three firms in contention for the U.K.’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) procurement programme are understood to have withdrawn, leaving Leonardo as the sole bidder.

The British MoD is seeking to acquire up to 40-plus aircraft to replace multiple helicopters operated by the British Army and Royal Air Force, though recent industry reports suggest the final number could be between 23 and 32 machines.

The original budget for the programme was estimated to be between £900 million and £1.2 billion, and delivery of the new helicopter is expected towards the end of this decade. Initially three aircraft were in the running: the Lockheed Martin S-70M Blackhawk, the Leonardo AW149 and the Airbus H175M.

The deadline for bids was at the end of August, but according to industry reports, only Leonardo had submitted a bid in time.

Late last month Airbus announced it was “reluctantly” withdrawing, stating: "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.”

Similarly Lockheed Martin U.K. issued a statement saying it had  chosen not to bid “as we could not meet its minimum requirements in today’s market conditions.”

By contrast Leonardo Helicopters said it had made a fully compliant bid. Its U.K.’s MD Adam Clarke was quoted as saying: “We are confident in our offering as the only company in the competition with the skills and infrastructure onshore to provide a ‘Made in Britain’ helicopter to the U.K. armed forces.”

A decision is expected in 2025, but the situation has been further complicated by the new Labour government’s announcement of a Strategic Defence Review also due to report in the first half of that year.