Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Defence Equipment & Support's article entitled £122m contract sees UK’s fleet of Airbus H145s expanded with six procured for overseas duties, published on 18 April 2024, whether the purchase of those Airbus H145s affects the number of helicopters to be purchased under the New Medium Helicopter programme.

Whilst a decision was taken to treat the Brunei and Cyprus Rotary Wing Support requirement as separate to the other requirements to be met with the New Medium Helicopter (NMH), there has been no other change to the NMH scope as advertised in the Contract Notice.

The NMH competition needs to conclude before NMH aircraft numbers and delivery dates can be confirmed.