Airbus Helicopters is exploring various industrial agreements, including the possibility of in-country production, as the company seeks to secure a launch customer order for its H175M helicopter after withdrawing from the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) acquisition program.
During a recent press day at Airbus Helicopters’ production facility in Marignane, France, CEO Bruno Even stated that discussions are ongoing with several “other customers” apart from the UK, although the specifics of an “industry footprint” for the super medium-class aircraft have yet to be established. „We are ready to propose this whole partnership with some of our customers, allowing for local production of this capability while also enabling us to export this new program,” Even explained.
The UK, which considered the H175M for the NMH competition, is now facing uncertainty regarding the future of the program following the withdrawal of both Airbus and Lockheed Martin on the day of bid submissions. As a result, Leonardo emerged as the sole bidder, proposing the AW149 multirole helicopter to meet the UK’s requirement for 23 to 32 new rotorcraft to replace the Airbus Puma HC2 aircraft.
Doubts about the viability of the NMH competition persist, especially given the potential challenges of moving forward with a single manufacturer. Furthermore, the UK government has paused significant acquisition decisions until completing a strategic defense review, casting further uncertainty on the program.
Airbus had initially committed to establishing a H175M production facility in Broughton, Wales, but opted to withdraw from NMH based on a thorough review of requirements. Even noted that the company found it impossible to craft a responsible bid that aligned with the customer’s demands while also ensuring adequate long-term returns for the business.
Even elaborated that the decision to withdraw was influenced by Airbus’s assessment that it could not present a competitive offer meeting the necessary performance, local content, and budget criteria while achieving the right return for the industry. He suggested that this could provide an opportunity for the UK to reassess its requirements for the NMH program. Even did not rule out the possibility of re-entering the competition should it be recompeted in the future. “We will listen to the customers [UK] and what they have in mind for the next step and will present the best proposal as the NMH program evolves,” he said.
Currently, the H175M program is in its early stages of development, with key decisions pending regarding configurations and equipment, according to Olivier Pastore, head of the H175M program. He noted that the platform has already been de-risked as a purely military transport platform due to familiarity with the design, but discussions around sensor integration and architectural decisions are still to be finalized.
Initially, the H175M helicopter is slated for troop transport and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, with plans to extend its capabilities to encompass more complex roles such as Special Forces operations and medical evacuation in the future, Pastore explained.
