Airbus and Lockheed Martin ‘no bid’ on NMH requirement
August 31, 2024
In our article of 19 August 2024 https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/uk-nmh-programme-faces-further-uncertainty/ Aerospace Global News reported that: “Industry sources now suggest that Airbus too may be out of the NMH competition, having reportedly informed the MoD that the programme was “not achievable” within the planned Total Contract Value.”
On 30 August (the date that bids were due in for the UK New Medium Helicopter or NMH requirement) Airbus announced that it had “taken the decision to withdraw from the competition” after undertaking a review of the detailed NMH requirements.
Airbus went on to say that: “Together with our partners we have concluded that 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. We believe that the outcome of this procurement as it stands would not be able to deliver on current defence industrial strategy objectives, particularly its ambition for long-term new jobs, opportunities for the UK supply chain and sovereign capability.”
Lockheed Martin has also confirmed its long-suspected ‘no bid’ on NMH. A spokesperson said that: “We believe that Black Hawk remains the best solution both for the UK armed forces and UK industry and continue to collaborate with UK MoD to support its refresh of the wider UK Rotary Wing Strategy, but have elected not to submit a response to the New Medium Helicopter ITN [invitation to negotiate] as we could not meet its minimum requirements in today’s market conditions.”
Leonardo has confirmed that it has submitted “a bid that is fully compliant with the UK MoD’s requirements on budget, number of platforms and timeline.” This means that, as things stand, the AW149 is the sole remaining contender to meet the NMH requirement. Many believe that the aircraft was the best solution from an operational, industrial and national value standpoint, and then-Defence Minister Ben Wallace was understood to have favoured a simple direct procurement of the type.
