"Speaking at the
DSEI show in October last year, Whitney acknowledged that a failure to secure work through NMH could make the wider Leonardo group reconsider its investment in the UK.
“My concern would be if our own MoD doesn’t show confidence in the rotary-wing provider which is already established in the UK that does lead to questions,” he said."
Firstly a veiled threat to U.K jobs if Leonardo don't get the contract
Secondly confidence in the product is more important than confidence in the company.
The U.K military has had to deal with sub standard equipment on more than one occasion of U.K manufacture.