The British Ministry of Defense announced the launch in the last few hours of the "New Medium Helicopter" program for the modernization of the national fleet of military helicopters. London plans to award the contract for the construction of new aircraft in 2025. The agreement could be worth almost 1.5 billion dollars for the replacement of Puma, Bell 412, Bell 212, Airbus Dauphin rotorcraft. 

"The new medium helicopter will provide essential support to our military operations and we are pleased to have reached this next important phase of the programme. The tender includes essential criteria which are key to ensuring the rotary wing's vital operational independence, allowing us to respond rapidly to emerging threats", said UK Defense Procurement Secretary James Cartlidge. 

Among the participants in the tender there will almost certainly be the British branches of the company Airbus Helicopters (could present the H-175M), the Italian Leonardo Helicopters (with the AW-149), the US Lockheed Martin (Black Hawk). The New Medium Helicopter program involves the supply of up to 44 multi-role helicopters capable of operating in all environments and carrying out operations currently assigned to various specialized aircraft.