Controversy is being whipped up over the expectation that IBM UK Ltd will be given the nod to head the UKP1,500m Merlin helicopter military project over the GEC Plc-British Aerospace Plc: Westland Plc will build the helicopter and favours IBM because it will get more work than from the all-British consortium, most of the work will be done in the UK whoever wins, but there is fear that if the IBM bid succeeds, then export sales will be limited by US government vetoes.
