Airbus and Lockheed Martin have decided to opt out of an ambitious program to develop a new medium-lift helicopter (NMH) for the British military.
On the day of the bid submission deadline, Airbus announced that it was unable to formulate a bid that would meet the UK’s requirements.
Moreover, it said it was still unsure if it would be able to deliver on the program’s industrial strategy objectives, which include providing new long-term jobs and opportunities for the UK supply chain.
Lockheed has also been listed as a “no bid” in the initiative after the deadline, confirming earlier suspicions that it would not participate in the competitive process.
In a statement, the US defense giant pointed out that it could not meet the program’s minimum requirements “in today’s market conditions.”
Both Lockheed and Airbus were shortlisted in 2022 as contenders for the program and told to submit their official bids by August 30, 2024.
Leonardo as Sole Bidder
The exit of Airbus and Lockheed Martin from the NMH initiative has left Leonardo as its sole bidder.
The Italian aerospace firm is offering its AW149 helicopter, which can accommodate up to 16 troops and conduct combat, logistics, and maritime patrol missions.
Leonardo recently confirmed that it had already submitted its bid, ensuring that it is “fully compliant” with the outlined requirements in terms of budget, number of platforms, and timeline.
Prior to the withdrawal of Airbus and Lockheed, several reports already claimed that Leonardo’s offer could be the best solution among the three shortlisted candidates from an operational, industrial, and national value standpoint.
The major shake-up in the NMH program leaves the UK with at least two options: proceed with Leonardo’s proposal or open a recompete contract to seek more vendors.
Five-in-One Chopper
The NMH program aims to produce a new rotary-wing aircraft that will give as much value as possible to the UK industrial base.
It should be able to operate in all environments and perform defense tasks previously undertaken by five different aircraft, including combat, transport, and humanitarian missions.
The UK was initially expected to order 44 NMHs from its chosen vendor, but industry sources revealed in May that the UK MoD will reduce the purchase by a third.
The helicopters are set to replace the country’s 23-strong fleet of Puma HC2 transport choppers, as well as Bell 212s and Airbus 412s.