New Medium Helicopter

Last updated

New Medium Helicopter
General information
Project forProcurement of a fleet of medium-lift helicopters
Issued by UK Ministry of Defence
Service
Proposals
Requirement44 Medium Lift Helicopters
final assembly line
training & support
History
Initiated2021
Expected2025

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) is a British military programme to procure a new medium-lift support helicopter to replace several existing helicopters operated by the Royal Air Force and British Army. It is expected the new aircraft will enter service during the late-2020s. After early work on specifications and a down select of contenders, bidding was opened in 2024. The requirement is for a production line and 44 medium helicopters planned to accomplish five specific roles. The helicopter is expected to replace Puma, Huey, and Dauphin helicopters in British service. The Huey's were retired early and replaced by the Puma and Juno helicopters.

Contents

A main goal is to bolster medium lift capacity, currently supported dwindling numbers of Puma medium helicopters. They entered service in 1968 with 48 being bought, and 24 were upgraded to HC2 standard in the 2010s, and are planned to be service into the late 2020s while the NMH programme is underway. Part way through a transparency notice was issued, that the remaining Huey's are being replaced by Airbus H145 for the time being. In early 2024, there were signs the order could be as little as 30 aircraft, but the MoD did not comment.

British medium lift capacity, limited to a couple dozen refurbished Puma's, now over half a century old is on schedule to be replaced by the NMH programme. [1] In contrast, ally USA has over 2,800 medium lift choppers in service. [2] There is serious competition from Leonardo, which incorporated the famed Westland aviation company. Finally, the combined forces of Team Airbus, Boeing UK, and others pitching a newer Airbus design is in the running. Dark horse candidates, among the large medium lift helicopter market are a possibility, though with now parted out Australians used MRH-90 Taipan (NH90) presumably passed over. The Lockheed Martin lead team, is putting up the popular but aging S-70 (aka Black Hawk) helicopter.

Background

In the 1967 there was an Anglo-French coöperation on helicopters which resulted in a fleet of 48 Westland Puma, which were Sud Aviation/Aerospatiale SA330;the first was delivered in 1968 and British production was active by 1970. The Westland Puma HC.1 fleet replaced Westland Whirlwind HC.Mk 10 and served with distinction in Rhodesia, Northern Ireland, Belize, the 1st Gulf War, including Operation Granby, Balkans, and humanitarian relief operations globally. However, in the 21st century its performance was found lacking in "Hot and High" conditions as encountered on Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. In the 2010s 24 were upgraded with more powerful engines, and entered service as the Puma HC.2 starting in 2013. [1] The Puma HC.2 fleet is planned to be supported until at least 2028. [3]

A RAF Puma helicopter. Although upgraded in the 2010s, the fleet is on track to have been in service 60+ years. Puma (52362465740).jpg
A RAF Puma helicopter. Although upgraded in the 2010s, the fleet is on track to have been in service 60+ years.
Griffin HAR.2;a Bell 412EP in RAF service, these have already been retired, in 2022. Bell 412EP Griffin HAR2, UK - Air Force AN1560195.jpg
Griffin HAR.2;a Bell 412EP in RAF service, these have already been retired, in 2022.

On 22 March 2021, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) published Defence in a Competitive Age , in which it indicated that it would invest in a new medium-lift helicopter during the mid-2020s. [4] The Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, published at the same time, outlined that to maintain cost-effective access to upgrades and support for the helicopter fleet, the MOD's intention was to consolidate existing fleets through their replacement by a new aircraft acquired through the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme. [5] The aircraft to be replaced are the Royal Air Force's twenty-three Westland Puma HC2 and three Bell 412 Griffin; and the British Army's three Bell 212 and six Airbus AS365 Dauphin. [6] [7] In 2022, the MOD said up to 44 aircraft would be purchased. [8]

Despite the MOD at the time having yet to release a formal requirement, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo and Sikorsky (part of Lockheed Martin) all displayed their proposals to meet the NMH requirement at the DSEI 2021 defence exhibition in September 2021. [6]

In October 2021, the MOD indicated that no final decision had been taken on the method of procurement, but that the expectation was that it will be subject to a competition. [9] A prior information notice was published by the MOD on 11 November 2021, which outlined the scope of the project and the intention to carry out early engagement with potential suppliers. The MOD indicated that it anticipated 36 to 44 new helicopters would be procured, as well as two cockpit flight simulators and one cabin simulator. [10] At this stage the estimated cost of the contract was £1 billion and it was anticipated to run from October 2023 until October 2028. [11]

Programme launch

H145 Jupiter which will replace the Puma HC2 in Cyprus and Brunei RAF H145 Jupiter Helicopter MOD 45166205.jpg
H145 Jupiter which will replace the Puma HC2 in Cyprus and Brunei

The MOD published a contract notice on 18 May 2022, officially commencing the competition and confirming the intention to acquire up to 44 aircraft. The contact would also include air and ground crew training as well as in-service technical support and maintenance. The contract would now be worth between £900 million and £1.2 billion. Although no contract start date was indicated, it is specified as running for seven years from the date of award. Invitations to tender were expected to be issued by the MOD by 30 September 2022. [12]

In October 2022, the MOD selected four contenders who would progress to the next stage, Airbus offering the H175M, Boeing with an undisclosed aircraft, Leonardo offering the AW149 and Lockheed Martin offering the S-70 Blackhawk. Bell and AceHawk Aerospace did not pass the pre-qualification questionnaire. [13] Boeing confirmed in March 2023 it would be partnering with Airbus on the H175M bid, rather than offering its own aircraft which it was anticipated would have been the MH-139 Grey Wolf. [14]

In July 2023, the defence media reported that the number of aircraft to be acquired had been reduced to a maximum of 35. [15] However, the MOD denied it had reduced the quantity under consideration, stating "There has been no change to the advertised requirement in the New Medium Helicopter contract notice that was published in May 2022." That tender document called for the acquisition of up to 44 New Medium Helicopters with a total budget of up to £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion). The MOD added that "the second half of the competition will be launched later [in 2023]." [16] In February 2024, defence industry sources again indicated that the expected order size would be reduced, potentially to 25-35 aircraft, with the MOD declining to comment on the exact figure. [17] Bidding was opened for the programme as the Invitation to Negotiate phase was launched in February 2024. Three manufacturers, Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Lockheed Martin are expected to submit bids which will be reviewed during 2025, when a contract is also expected to be awarded. [18]

Separately from the NMH programme, the MOD published a transparency notice in November 2023 indicating its intention to acquire six Airbus H145M helicopters for use in Cyprus and Brunei, to replace the Puma HC2 currently in use. [19] [20] Aging Puma choppers replaced the retired Huey's in Cyprus for the time being, awaiting the delivery of the H145 Junos. [19] The order was confirmed in April 2024. [21]

Contenders

As of February 2024, there are three known serious contenders for the NMH contract. [22]

Airbus Helicopters H175M

Airbus Helicopters H-175M Airbus H-175M (53063792330).jpg
Airbus Helicopters H-175M

European multinational company Airbus Helicopters are offering a military version of the H175, which is designated as the H175M. [23] It is a twin-engine helicopter which according to Airbus has the largest cabin space and fuel capacity in its class. [24]

Airbus is partnering with Boeing Defence UK, Babcock, Martin-Baker and Spirit AeroSystems to form the H175m Task Force. Pratt & Whitney Canada would supply PT6C-67E turbo-shaft engines. [23] [25]

The aircraft would be manufactured at Airbus's factory located at Hawarden Airport, Broughton, Wales. [25]

Leonardo AW149

Leonardo AW149 AW-149 (52313618512) (cropped).jpg
Leonardo AW149

Italian manufacturer Leonardo is offering the AW149.Partner companies forming Team AW149 UK would include Aerco, Chelton, Ford Aerospace, Helitune, LFD and RDDS Avionics. [26] The AW149 operates with either two General Electric CT7-2E1 engines or two Safran Aneto-1K engines. [27]

Leonardo has indicated that it would assemble the AW149 at a new assembly-line at its Yeovil facility in Somerset, England. [28] Yeovil would act as a 'final assembly facility' due to Italy's investment in the main AW189/AW149 production line in Brindisi, Italy. [29] Nevertheless, since the British aviation company Westland was merged into what is now Leonardo, the company celebrated over a century of manufacturing aircraft in England. [30]

The AW149 is already operated by the Royal Thai Army, Egyptian Navy and Polish Land Forces. [31]

Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk

A Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk operated by the US Army 91-26336 UH-60L Texas Ar.NG, Bergstrom IAP, Texas (3147294502) (cropped).jpg
A Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk operated by the US Army

Lockheed Martin, through its Sikorsky Aircraft subsidiary, is offering the S-70 Black Hawk. The Black Hawk is the only contender which was designed as a military helicopter, rather than being a military version of a civilian airframe and is combat proven. Entering service in 1979, the Black Hawk is operated by 34 countries, including the US military which had over 2,000 examples across a range of variants. [32]

Lockheed Martin has selected StandardAero to carry out final assembly of the aircraft in Gosport, England. [33]

Comparison table

Puma HC2 vs possible NMH bids
 Company Model PassengersMTOW (kg)Range (km)Max speed (kn)Cruise speed (kn)First flight yearFlight hoursLength(m)Width (m)Height (m)Production siteMin. op temp (°C)Max op. temp (°C)
Aérospatiale Puma HC2 [34]  167,400550167134196530,000+ [35] 18.23.55.14 Hayes, Middlesex [36] -30+40
Airbus Helicopters H175M [37] 187,8001,083175+160+2009 [38] [39] 145,000+ [40] 18.06 [41] 3.35 [42] 5.34 Airbus Broughton -40+50
Leonardo Helicopters AW149 [43] 198,000849 [44] 1701552009 [45] [46] unknown17.573.02 [47] 5.07 Yeovil/Westland Airport -40+55
Boeing Rotorcraft Systems MH-139 Grey Wolf 156,5001,30016713520012,000,000+ [48] 16.662.264.98 PZL-Świdnik -40+55
Sikorsky Aircraft  S-70M 119,979460195160197414,000,000+19.764.375.33 StandardAero Gosport-40+55

Past contenders of interest or down selected after DPQQ

The UH-1Y was one options from Bell, which also considered the V-22 tilt rotor and new 525 15th MEU Marines execute VBSS 150409-M-GC438-175.jpg
The UH-1Y was one options from Bell, which also considered the V-22 tilt rotor and new 525

Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf

Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf MH-139, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 2019 (cropped).jpg
Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf

It was thought the American company Boeing might offer the MH-139 Grey Wolf (based on the Leonardo AW-139) for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirements, which was the winner in 2018 of a US Air Force competition to replace the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1N helicopters. However, Boeing did not confirm this though it acknowledged it was the only helicopter in its portfolio that could meet the UK specs. [53] [54] [14] In 2023 Airbus welcomed Boeing to their H175M task force. [23] As of 2024 at start of bidding, it is reported that Boeing is partnering with Airbus on the H175M. [22]

See also

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  46. ↑ "The AW149 Performs Its First Flight". Vertical Mag. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022. AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first prototype of the AW149 multi-role military medium twin helicopter successfully completed its maiden flight on November 13th at AgustaWestland's Vergiate plant.
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