North Devon MP warns UK Armed Forces face 'medium-lift gap' without new helicopters

North Devon MP Ian Roome has called on the Government to urgently prioritise the New Medium Helicopter programme, warning that the UK Armed Forces are currently operating without a full medium‑lift helicopter capability following the retirement of the Puma fleet.

The programme is intended to deliver up to 44 modern medium‑lift helicopters capable of transporting troops, carrying equipment, and supporting both Army and RAF operations, replacing the Puma and other ageing rotorcraft.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday (11 February), Mr Roome said the retirement of the Puma helicopters had left a “medium‑lift capability gap” and that action was needed now, rather than waiting for the Government’s forthcoming Defence Investment Plan to provide answers on future funding.

“After the Puma was retired, our Armed Forces were left with a medium‑lift capability gap and the New Medium Helicopter programme will be vital in closing this,” Mr Roome told MPs. “As a Defence Committee member, I’ve been told by the Chief of the Defence Staff that the medium helicopter programme was still very much on the Armed Forces’ priorities list, but I believe it needs to be prioritised now, not left hanging while we wait for the Defence Investment Plan.” 

He added that continuing the programme would support jobs across the defence supply chain.

“I asked the Minister to continue the programme to save the 3,000 jobs, plus those in the supply chain of SMEs facilitate it,” he said. 

For more than 50 years, the Royal Air Force’s Puma HC2 helicopters provided medium‑lift support, transporting troops, carrying equipment, and assisting with logistical and humanitarian tasks.

The type was due to retire in March 2025 as part of broader updates to the UK’s helicopter fleet.

The NMH programme was launched by the Ministry of Defence in 2021 to acquire up to 44 new medium‑lift helicopters, consolidating multiple helicopter roles into a single, modern platform capable of supporting both Army and RAF operations. 

To deliver these capabilities, the programme entered an Invitation to Negotiate phase in 2024, with manufacturers invited to submit bids for evaluation.

Originally, three firms, Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK, and Lockheed Martin UK, were involved in the NMH contest. 

However, in 2024 both Airbus and Lockheed Martin withdrew, leaving only Leonardo’s AW149 helicopter in contention. 

The Ministry of Defence continues to evaluate bids, but a final contract award has yet to be announced.

To help manage the transition, the MoD has also procured a small fleet of Airbus H145 helicopters, designated Jupiter HC Mk2, to provide support roles in places such as Cyprus and Brunei while the medium‑lift replacement is developed and brought into service. 

These aircraft are expected to be fully operational in 2026.

In Parliament, Mr Roome reiterated that the medium helicopter programme needed to be prioritised immediately, rather than waiting for the Defence Investment Plan, emphasising the importance of maintaining the UK’s medium‑lift helicopter capability.

Medium‑lift helicopters like the Puma have been integral to the UK’s joint aviation capability, enabling troop transport, logistical support, and other essential military functions.