Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20867 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the introduction into service of the New Medium Helicopter will be brought forward in light of the commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027.

The progress of the New Medium Helicopter programme is not affected by the commitment to spend 2.5% GDP on defence by 2027.

There are no plans to change the extant New Medium Helicopter competition which started on 27 February 2024 with the release of the Invitation to Negotiate to Aribus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK.

The Ministry of Defence is continuing with the established procurement process, managed by Defence Equipment and Suport, and the proposal will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award is anticipated.