I have just been reading about this for my Naval research. It would appear that the procurement of NH 90's is a result of the dual requirements of the Navy's Surface Combatent Marine Rotorcraft and the Army/ RAF Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter. It was going to be Future Lynx for obvious reasons, but is ultimately too small to fulfil the dual role properly. A version of the Merlin was also a possibility, but deemed too large foro the BLUH requirements. Thus NH 90 has been offered with many "benefits" by the manufacturer even though as I understand it will not be made in Britain.