Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he considered including a new medium helicopter programme within the Strategic Defence Review; and whether he plans to implement such a programme.

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 Airbus 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 Support, and the proposal will be evaluated through 2025 when, subject to Government approvals, a contract award is anticipated.