Boeing (NYSE: BA), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Airbus and Leonardo will advance to the next phase of an estimated $1.15 billion acquisition program to replace the U.K. air force’s Puma HC.2 medium support helicopter platform, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.
A British defense ministry spokesperson said the agency intends to ask all four companies to submit detailed proposals for the second phase of its New Medium Helicopter sourcing process.
The downselection came less than six months after bidders responded to a “dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire” for the NMH program.
A tender notice released in May noted the program would cover the procurement of 44 helicopters, training devices and materials, spares and support services.
The U.K. government plans to assess rotocraft offerings based on the country’s defense and security industrial strategy and expects the winning platform to join the British military aircraft fleet in 2025, according to the report.
