Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, what is his target date for the delivery of all 23 new medium-lift helicopters.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £1 billion New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract secures thousands of skilled British jobs, boosts the UK Armed Forces’ capability and makes Britain Leonardo’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports – worth a potential £15 billion over the next decade.
The NMH Entry Into Service is expected in January 2031, with the first aircraft delivered in the summer of 2030. The final aircraft is expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2033, which is also when the equipment acquisition contract is expected to end.
The financial profile for NMH has not changed since the release of the Invitation To Negotiate in February 2024. Approximately one third of the contract value is expected to be accounted for over the next three Financial Years.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, when the first new medium-lift helicopter will be in service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £1 billion New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract secures thousands of skilled British jobs, boosts the UK Armed Forces’ capability and makes Britain Leonardo’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports – worth a potential £15 billion over the next decade.
The NMH Entry Into Service is expected in January 2031, with the first aircraft delivered in the summer of 2030. The final aircraft is expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2033, which is also when the equipment acquisition contract is expected to end.
The financial profile for NMH has not changed since the release of the Invitation To Negotiate in February 2024. Approximately one third of the contract value is expected to be accounted for over the next three Financial Years.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, how much of the £1 billion announced will be spent in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £1 billion New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract secures thousands of skilled British jobs, boosts the UK Armed Forces’ capability and makes Britain Leonardo’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports – worth a potential £15 billion over the next decade.
The NMH Entry Into Service is expected in January 2031, with the first aircraft delivered in the summer of 2030. The final aircraft is expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2033, which is also when the equipment acquisition contract is expected to end.
The financial profile for NMH has not changed since the release of the Invitation To Negotiate in February 2024. Approximately one third of the contract value is expected to be accounted for over the next three Financial Years.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, in which year will the £1 billion contract conclude.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £1 billion New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract secures thousands of skilled British jobs, boosts the UK Armed Forces’ capability and makes Britain Leonardo’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports – worth a potential £15 billion over the next decade.
The NMH Entry Into Service is expected in January 2031, with the first aircraft delivered in the summer of 2030. The final aircraft is expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2033, which is also when the equipment acquisition contract is expected to end.
The financial profile for NMH has not changed since the release of the Invitation To Negotiate in February 2024. Approximately one third of the contract value is expected to be accounted for over the next three Financial Years.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many candidates remain in the selection process to hire an Armed Forces Commissioner.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The selection process for appointing the first Armed Forces Commissioner remains in progress. The Armed Forces Commissioner will play a pivotal role in improving service life for Service Personnel and their families. It is essential that we identify and appoint the most suitable individual to fulfil this responsibility. We are committed to appointing the right person for this critical role, which is central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people. Announcements on the outcome of the appointment will be made in due course.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any candidates have been selected in the process to hire an Armed Forces Commissioner.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The selection process for appointing the first Armed Forces Commissioner remains in progress. The Armed Forces Commissioner will play a pivotal role in improving service life for Service Personnel and their families. It is essential that we identify and appoint the most suitable individual to fulfil this responsibility. We are committed to appointing the right person for this critical role, which is central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people. Announcements on the outcome of the appointment will be made in due course.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project to be delivered by 2027.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken forward into production.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project to be delivered by 2027.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken forward into production.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will contain costings for all (a) current and (b) future defence programmes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are working flat out to complete the Defence Investment Plan and it will be published as soon as possible.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, whether the new surface-to-air missile will be assessed using Minimum Deployable Capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. The new weapon system will be introduced through the spiral acquisition model, delivering a Minimum Deployable Capability followed by iterative enhancements.