The UK Ministry of Defence is set to award the prime contract for its New Medium Helicopter program in 2025, marking a significant advancement in the modernization of its military rotary-wing capabilities. This initiative, valued at £1 billion (approximately $1.2 billion), aims to develop a medium-lift support airframe that will effectively replace various legacy helicopters currently in service, including the Dauphin, Griffin, Puma, and Twin Huey models.
This update was shared by British Defence Procurement and Industry Minister Maria Eagle during a session in the House of Commons. Eagle provided clarity on the progress of the New Medium Helicopter competition, stating, “The new medium helicopter competition is at the evaluation and approval stage. If everything goes well, I anticipate a contract award later this year, subject to all the usual approvals.”
During the session, MP for West Dorset, Edward Morello, raised questions regarding the program’s timeline and its potential benefits for the local industry and workforce, particularly in West Dorset and Yeovil, where the sole bidder for the initiative, Italian defense contractor Leonardo, is based. Eagle highlighted that while such programs can often take a significant amount of time to reach the contracting stage, she remains hopeful that the current process will move ahead more swiftly than in the past. She noted, “I hope that we can get it to the end of the line as swiftly as possible, in accordance with the current process, and that some of his constituents will benefit from having work to do on the new programme.”
The introduction of the New Medium Helicopter is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the UK Armed Forces across a range of domains. The new aircraft will not only facilitate transport capabilities but will also play a vital role in tactical combat and humanitarian missions once deployed.
During the proposal phase, the UK government set ambitious plans to develop a fleet of up to 44 helicopters, along with corresponding ground-based cockpit flight simulators and a cabin trainer to support training initiatives. With Leonardo being the only bidder for the contract, the UK military is poised to adopt the AW149 airframe, which is notable for its dimensions of 18 meters (59 feet) in length and its capacity to transport up to 19 personnel.
Equipped for combat, the AW149 can also be armed with various weaponry options, including multiple rocket launchers and laser-guided missiles, further enhancing its versatility and effectiveness on the battlefield. As the ministry moves forward with this pivotal program, stakeholders are keenly awaiting further developments and the potential benefits it could bring to both the military and local economies.
