Airbus announces H175M Task Force

Fairford, Airbus Helicopters has announced the first members of H175M Task  Force – the UK-based industry team created to offer, supply and support the British-produced  H175M helicopter for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement. 

On the opening day of the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, Gloucestershire, leading  aerospace companies Babcock International, Martin-Baker, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC)  and Spirit AeroSystems stepped forward as Strategic Partners in the new teaming. 

The addition of Babcock, Martin-Baker and Spirit AeroSystems will increase the sovereign UK  elements of the Airbus proposition sourced from across the country. 

Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK, Lenny Brown, said: “These agreements, signed with some of the most respected aerospace companies in the UK and internationally are a clear sign of the robustness and enduring value to the nation of our proposal. 

“If selected the H175M Task Force will create hundreds of new jobs and sustain thousands  more throughout the UK rotary supply chain in the years ahead. The H175M has the potential  to reinvigorate the UK’s helicopter industry by addressing an export market estimated at nearly 500 aircraft worldwide.” 

Defence and helicopter specialist Babcock will fulfill the critical role of support partner for the  H175M in UK service at military operating locations. 

Martin Baker, at Denham, Middlesex, with more than 70 years of aerospace experience, will  provide specialist troop seating and cabin integration services. 

In Belfast, Northern Ireland and Prestwick, Scotland Spirit AeroSystems, already an Airbus  partner on the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft, will undertake extensive detailed design  and manufacturing activities on the H175M.  

In addition, Pratt & Whitney Canada, is formally partnering in the team for which it supplies and  supports the PT6C-67E turboshaft engines from its market leading family of powerplants. 

Further partners and suppliers from across the UK will be announced as the bid progresses  based on the H175M helicopter to be produced at Broughton, North Wales. 

Phil Craig, Manager Director of Babcock Aviation UK, said: “Babcock are extremely pleased to  be part of the H175M Task Force competing to deliver the New Medium Helicopter requirement  for the UK Ministry of Defence. 

“Collaborating with Airbus as part of this strategic task force enables us to partner with industry  specialists and leverage our expertise in aerospace engineering and in-service support,  delivering resilient operational capability for the UK MoD.  

“As a people-focused organization, we look forward to investing in the future of UK Defence  and to provide sustainable, long-term employment opportunities that will benefit local  communities and the wider economy. “ 

Martin-Baker Director of Business Development Andrew Martin said: “Martin-Baker is proud to  have had our life saving troop seats selected for the H75M platform. Airbus and Martin-Baker  have worked together for the last 20 years and look forward to continuing this partnership.“ 

“We are delighted to be working with Airbus Helicopters in its effort to supply the Ministry of  Defence with new H175M helicopters powered by our PT6C-67E engines,” said Nicolas  Chabée, Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Helicopters at Pratt & Whitney Canada. “The  UK’s New Medium Helicopter programme will be ideally served by this exceptional pairing with  proven reliability, dispatch capabilities and mission flexibility. Pratt & Whitney has a leading  presence in the UK, serving over 250 operators flying 1,250 engines that power 660 aircraft.  We understand military missions and have decades of experience powering them.” 

“Spirit AeroSystems is delighted to utilise its advanced composites design and manufacturing  expertise at both its Belfast and Prestwick facilities to support H175M Task Force. We’ve been  working for many years with Airbus, supplying key structures, including fully integrated, for  multiple commercial aircraft programmes and, more recently, on the exploration of disruptive  aircraft design. We’re excited to collaborate on another new platform, and to leverage our  design-for-manufacture capability to offer innovative, cost-effective solutions for defence. We  look forward to joining other strategic partners on developing a proposal with the potential to  help shape the future of UK military rotorcraft,” said Sir Michael Ryan, CBE, Vice President,  European Space & Defence, and Government Affairs, Spirit AeroSystems. 

The H175M is a modern and exceptionally capable helicopter with the biggest cabin in its class,  outstanding range and endurance, and low through-life costs.

#H175M @AirbusintheUK #NewMediumHelicopter