https://www.flightglobal.com/helicop...152194.article
Boeing has shifted its approach to the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest and is no longer pursuing the requirement as a prime contractor....
The US firm was one of four companies – alongside Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Sikorsky –
picked last September to proceed to the next stage of the NMH acquisition,
having successfully passed the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) step.
But unlike its rivals in the process,
Boeing was not proposing an airframe,
instead offering a services, training and support solution,
likely in the expectation that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) would contract that requirement separately to the aircraft.
In changing tack, the manufacturer will essentially still be offering the same range of solutions as before but will be approaching the contract in a different manner.
“Boeing continues to follow the New Medium Helicopter procurement with interest
and explore how we can best support it, based on the MoD’s requirements and what technology we can offer.
“While we aren’t sharing specific details about our involvement at this time,
Boeing has supported the UK armed forces for decades
and employs hundreds of people across the country in helicopter sustainment, maintenance and training,” it says.
Bidders are due to meet with UK defence officials on 24 February 2023 to receive an update on the procurement timeline.
That is likely to lay out a delay to the acquisition process.
The three competitors were due to receive an invitation to negotiate by 31 March 2023
but this target now appears to have slipped as the programme office struggles to gain sign-off for the procurement.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicop...152194.article