Telling statement in an article about UK's Helicopter Fleet plan, in this week's Flight International, byline Tim Ripley, London:
Type selection decisions are due in late January or early February, with contract negotiations to gather pace by mid-2005. A Ministry of Defence source says the process is not a formal competition, with the key consideration being to establish a policy that protects AgustaWestland's Yeovil plant and the EH101's future sales prospects.
The UK Department of Trade and Industry, Treasury and MoD are all likely to fight their corners in the battle over the UK helicopter industry's fate. AgustaWestland is keen to launch an enhanced troop transport version of its Merlin, dubbed the HC3+, featuring an improved transmission, fly-by wire flight controls, enhanced rotor blades, folding tail, significant weight reduction and additional maritime features. The Merlin CSP effort is also important as it will strongly influence the export potential of naval versions of the Merlin. At the point at which the EH101 is starting to ramp up foreign sales, now would be the worst possible moment for the UK to signal it was not going to invest in future versions of the helicopter, says one industry insider.
Copyright Flight International