The European-built Black Hawk helicopter. Lockheed Martin outlined its team of UK
partners and the benefits of choosing the advanced, Sikorsky Black Hawk® helicopter to replace
the UK’s aging mixed medium helicopter fleet. Proposal spells hundreds of high-tech jobs for UK workers and industry
Today at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI)
exhibition, Lockheed Martin announced its intention to participate in the UK Ministry of
Defence’s (MOD) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement. It outlined its team of UK
partners and the benefits of choosing the advanced, Sikorsky Black Hawk® helicopter to replace
the UK’s aging mixed medium helicopter fleet. Lockheed Martin also outlined its plan to
collaborate with those UK partners to create a multitude of opportunities for UK industry,
including jobs and opportunities in export, manufacturing and future technology development.
Lockheed Martin estimates nearly 40% of total Black Hawk production and assembly will occur
in the UK and will support, on average, 660* UK jobs a year between 2025 and 2030.
The plan also creates ~£470 million of export opportunities for UK partners manufacturing subsystems and components over the next 10 years, equivalent to 40% of the Total Programme
Value, based on the expected export market to Black Hawk customers. The company’s estimate
includes ongoing fleet sustainment that will support approximately 320 jobs a year for decades
to come when the UK Black Hawk fleet is in-service.
Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
Lt Col Stuart Crawford’s latest book Tank Commander (Hardback) is available now
@peoplemattertv
@509298