The ambitions of generating hundreds of new jobs at an intended helicopter manufacturing site in Broughton have been thwarted. Airbus has retracted its bid for a substantial Ministry of Defence contract to manufacture New Medium Helicopters (NMH) for the UK’s Armed Forces.
Airbus had been vying for this contract with its H175M model, a military variant of a 7.8-tonne rotorcraft previously sold only in the civil market. The contract, if awarded, would have included training provisions, as well as maintenance and spares packages. Airbus first expressed interest in this opportunity in September 2021, promising to establish a new assembly line at Broughton, which would have created hundreds of jobs within 12 months of the contract being finalised.
Currently, Airbus employs around 4,500 staff at the Broughton site, dedicated to the production of wings for its commercial aircraft. However, Airbus has now confirmed its withdrawal from the bidding process, citing an inability to formulate a responsible bid that meets both customer requirements and long-term business returns.
In an official statement, Airbus articulated, “Following the release of the ITN (invitation to negotiate) for the UK New Medium Helicopter (NMH), we have been able to review the requirements in detail. Together with our partners, we have concluded that we are unable to formulate a responsible bid that would in parallel satisfy the customer’s requirements and provide adequate long term returns to the business while implying a reasonable prospect of winning. We believe that the outcome of this procurement as it stands would not be able to deliver on current defence industrial strategy objectives, particularly its ambition for long term new jobs, opportunities for the UK supply chain and sovereign capability.”
Further affirming their position, Airbus continued, “We continue to believe the H175M is the right helicopter for the UK, providing the best combination of cost-effectiveness, capability and value to UK society, but have concluded that continued pursuit of the NMH opportunity cannot be justified. Reluctantly, we have taken the decision to withdraw from the competition. We look forward to continuing to support the Airbus Puma helicopter in service for as long as required, to addressing future UK military requirements as they evolve and to offering the H175M in the global market for some 500 helicopters in the super-medium category.”
Airbus rotary wing aircraft constitute the entirety of the UK’s police helicopter fleet, 65% of the air ambulance fleet, and half of the country’s overall civil helicopter fleet. Furthermore, Airbus is a significant supplier to the UK Armed Forces, with 100 of its rotorcraft in service with the Ministry of Defence. This includes designated helicopters for global operations, such as the Puma 2, a key asset for the RAF and subject to a highly successful defence upgrade programme in the UK. Moreover, Airbus Helicopters play an essential role in the UK Ministry of Defence Military Flying Training System, which has seen every helicopter pilot in the country trained on Airbus platforms for over half a century.
Regrettably, Airbus’s decision to exit the NMH contract bid ends the prospect of creating new jobs at Broughton. Nevertheless, the commitment to supporting existing operations and exploring future opportunities in the global market remains firm.