I think
The UK Defence Journal is confusing matters, there was no reference to LM or Airbus still being involved, just that they had received the invitation to negotiate last February'
James Cartlidge asked six questions related to NMH, the civil servant drafting the answer used the same text in five answers for Maria Eagle to sign.
The sixth appeared to be digging about whether Blackhawk is still an option, I wondered if he was thinking about remanufactured ex-US Army pre-Ms . The question was flat-batted away.
Question: "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the operational lifespan of the Lockheed Martin UH-60 Black Hawk."
Answer: "The Department has not assessed the potential merits of extending the operational lifespan of the Lockheed Martin UH-60 Black Hawk as the Department does not own any."
[QUOTE]To ask the Secretary of State for Defence:
1) whether his Department plans to change the extant New Medium Helicopter competitive tender.
2) ... how many platforms his Department intends to procure through the New Medium Helicopter programme, in the context of his decision to decommission 17 Puma helicopters.
3) if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his decision to retire (a) Chinook heavy transporter helicopters and (b) Puma helicopters on tender scoring for the New Medium Helicopter programme.
4) what his Department's planned timetable is for announcing the award for the New Medium Helicopter contract.
5) if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the progress of the New Medium Helicopter programme.
To all of which the answer was:
There are no plans to change the extant New Medium Helicopter competition which started on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.
The decision to retire the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters and remaining Puma helicopters has no impact on the New Medium Helicopter procurement process. The New Medium Helicopter competition remains sensitive, and the evaluation and approval process must complete before further details, including aircraft numbers, can be confirmed.
The Ministry of Defence is continuing with the established procurement process, managed by Defence Equipment and Support, and the proposal will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award is anticipated.
The progress of the New Medium Helicopter programme is not dependent on reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on Defence spending.