Farnborough 2022: Airbus announces H175M Task Force

Airbus showcased its H175M demonstrator at the Royal International Air Tattoo, ahead of the Farnborough Airshow. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Airbus Helicopters has revealed the first members of the H175M Task Force, which it has founded for the United Kingdom's New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement.

Announced ahead of the Farnborough Airshow, H175M Task Force comprises an initial four industrial partners that will team with Airbus Helicopters in its bid to provide the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) with up to 44 medium-lift platforms for between GBP900 million and GBP1.2 billion (between USD1.1 billion and USD1.5 billion).

“These agreements, signed with some of the most respected aerospace companies in the UK and internationally are a clear sign of the robustness and enduring value to the nation of our proposal,” managing director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK, Lenny Brown, said at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) on 15 July.

H175M Task Force comprises Babcock International, Martin-Baker, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), and Spirit AeroSystems. As noted by Brown, Babcock will provide support and services, Martin-Baker will provide specialist seating and cabin integration, P&WC will provide the PT6C-67E powerplant and in-country maintenance, while Spirit AeroSystems will be involved in design and manufacturing activities.

“If selected the H175M Task Force will create hundreds of new jobs and sustain thousands more throughout the UK rotary supply chain in the years ahead. The H175M has the potential to reinvigorate the UK's helicopter industry by addressing an export market estimated at nearly 500 aircraft worldwide,” Brown said. Further partners and suppliers from across the UK will be announced as the bid progresses based on the H175M helicopter to be produced at Broughton in Wales.