Airbus Helicopters has announced its H175M Task Force, an industrial team to support its proposition to supply the H175M to the UK Ministry of Defence in answer to the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement. Three of the companies named are UK-based, significantly increasing the sovereign UK elements of the proposal.
NMH is seeking up to 44 helicopters to replace the aging Puma and Bell 412 Griffin in Royal Air Force service, and maybe also the Bell 212 and Dauphin operated by the British Army. The competition was formally opened in May, and invitations to tender are expected to be sent out in late summer.
The NMH requirement is expected to include crew training, maintenance, and technical support. One of the named strategic partners is Babcock International, which would provide in-service support at military locations, while ejection seat supplier Martin-Baker would provide specialist troop seating and cabin integration. Spirit AeroSystems would undertake detailed design and manufacturing work at its facilities in Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Prestwick (Scotland). The fourth named partner is Pratt & Whitney Canada, which would supply and support the H175M’s PT6C-67E engines.
Airbus plans to build the H175M at its Broughton plant in North Wales, best known for building wings for the A320, A330, and A350 airliners. The company has said that further UK-based H175M partners and suppliers would be added “as the bid progresses.”