Sign up for free updates to stay informed. Simply create an account to receive the Aerospace & Defence myFT Digest directly in your inbox.
A competition worth £1bn to replace Britain’s battlefield helicopter is in chaos. Two out of three competitors backed out at the last minute, citing an inability to submit viable offers. Defence contractors Airbus and Lockheed Martin chose not to submit a final bid by the deadline. This left only Leonardo UK in the running to replace the Royal Air Force’s aging Puma support helicopters.
Airbus, which had proposed a militarized version of its H175 helicopter and promised to establish a final assembly line in north Wales, stated that it could not formulate a responsible bid that met both the customer’s requirements and provided adequate long-term returns.
US rival Lockheed Martin, who had offered its Black Hawk helicopter, also decided not to bid, as it could not meet the competition’s minimum requirements in the current market conditions.
Leonardo UK, the only remaining contestant, confirmed that they had submitted an offer. The company stressed their local credentials and social value as part of their focus on defense procurement.
The Ministry of Defence announced in 2021 that the RAF would retire its fleet of Puma helicopters and bring in new ones by 2025. The new medium-lift helicopter is meant to replace the Puma and three other types as well. The intent was to acquire up to 44 new helicopters, but the final number requested was lowered, making the procurement unfeasible.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer initiated a review of Britain’s military capabilities to address rising geopolitical threats. The review, led by Lord George Robertson, aims to increase defense expenditure from 2.3% to 2.5% by July 2025.
Other Stories
Euro zone inflation hits 3-year low at 2.2%