Lockheed Martin Launches Bid for UK Medium Helicopter Requirement
Lockheed Martin has launched its bid for the UK’s medium helicopter requirement this week at DSEI 2023 in London. The British Army’s New Medium Helicopter requirement focused on replacing the Puma and a number of other medium helicopters. Lockheed Martin UK will work with a number of UK-based partners to offer the Sikorsky Black Hawk, estimating that as much as 40% of total production and assembly could be completed in the UK.
On announcing Lockheed Martin UK’s proposal, Chief Executive Paul Livingston said: “The newest generation of the Black Hawk is proven, versatile and ready now. It’s not only the right choice for UK Defence, it’s the right choice for UK industry and it will create a generation of high-skilled jobs here in Britain.”
Team Black Hawk sees Lockheed Martin partner with Gosport-based StandardAero for “Team Black Hawk’s aircraft assembly, testing, delivery, maintenance and integration partner for UK-unique equipment and systems”. Other partners will include Martin-Baker Aircraft Company, Curtiss-Wright, Chelton, Inzspire, C3iA Solutions and Nova Systems.
“StandardAero is delighted to be teaming with Lockheed Martin UK on this once-in-a-generation helicopter programme”, said Simon Jones, StandardAero Group Managing Director, “for StandardAero UK it will mean upwards of 175 new, highly skilled, jobs in one of the more economically deprived local areas of the UK, with many more throughout our UK-based supply chain,”
Lockheed Martin note that 5,000 Black Hawks have been delivered worldwide and is in service with 35 nations pointing to longterm serviceability and daily availability rates of around 90%. The Black Hawk is set to face Leonardo’s AW149. Leonardo unveiled their bid at DSEI 2021 and have partnered with 70 UK-based companies.
It was recently revealed that the UK’s medium helicopter program had been delayed by up to two years, with the program’s end date has shifting from 7 July 2028 to 30 September 2031.