IMH 2025: UK ‘close' to NMH selection

With the Puma to be retired from UK service in the coming weeks, a type selection for its replacement under the NMH requirement is “close”, an official said. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

The United Kingdom is “close” to making a type selection for its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement, an official speaking under the Chatham House Rule has said.

Presenting at the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2025 conference, held from 25 to 27 February, the official said that the requirement to replace the Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 is still in competition despite the withdrawal of two of the three bidding vendors and that a decision is now expected.

“We are still in competition and in a delicate phase, and we are getting close now,” the official said on 25 February, adding, “But I won't say anything more on that.”

NMH is a GBP1.2 billion (USD1.5 billion) competition to replace the UK's 23 Puma HC2s with “up to 44” new helicopters, although the actual requirement could be for as few as 23–30 helicopters. With the Puma HC2 to be retired from service at the end of March, a previous element of the NMH requirement to replace three other helicopter types was earlier separated out.

With the requirement being launched in early 2021, the bidding phase involving Airbus Helicopters with its H175M, Leonardo with its AW149, and Lockheed Martin with its S-70M Black Hawk was commenced at IMH 2024. However, in late August both Airbus Helicopters and Lockheed Martin withdrew their participation, with both saying they were unable to fulfil the requirement within the allotted budget, leaving Leonardo as the sole bidder.