Speaking under the Chatham House Rule at #IMH24, an official says that #NMH "will be bought largely off the shelf, with UK bespoke modifications keep to an absolute minimum." Should mean speedy service entry, but flies in the face of DSIS which is meant to prioritise UK industry.
On DSIS, official says Rotary-Wing Refresh of which NMH is a part "cannot just be about the UK industrial base". Equally need for interoperability with allies, etc.
Official stresses that decision to buy H145 to take the Cyprus Bell 412 and Brunei Bell 212 replacement out of #NMH will not impact Puma replacement numbers. "The two things are not linked. I can say there is absolutely no change to the [up to 44] number already put out."