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Britain Strengthens Ukraine’s Air Fleet With Up to 10 Former RAF Puma Helicopters
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with Puma HC.2 transport helicopters that were recently retired from service in the Royal Air Force, the aviation publication Avions Légendaires reported on April 1.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the UK Ministry of Defence plans to transfer between 8 and 10 Puma helicopters, which were officially decommissioned on April 31, 2025.
The helicopters were last in service with the RAF’s 33rd Squadron and the 230th Expeditionary Squadron, which had been operating them in East Asia.
During their operational years, the Puma helicopters were a critical asset for the RAF, participating in nearly every British military operation since their introduction in 1971.
In the 2000s, the UK launched an extensive upgrade program to extend its service life. In 2007, the RAF initiated the Life Extension Programme, initially planning to modernize 28 Puma HC.1 helicopters.
Eventually, 24 were upgraded to the HC.2 standard, featuring more powerful Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines (1,800 hp each), enhanced avionics—including a glass cockpit—improved defensive systems, and increased fuel capacity.
The modernization was carried out by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter) for $336 million.
The aircraft is capable of carrying 16 passengers, 12 fully equipped troops or up to 2 tonnes of freight, the latter moved as internal cargo or underslung, or a mix of the two. It can also be fitted with up to six stretchers for operations in the casualty evacuation or medical emergency response team role.
With more powerful engines, and a greater range than the Puma HC.1 and a modern digital cockpit, the Puma HC.2 is capable of operating in harsh environments, lifting troops, supplies, and humanitarian aid wherever needed, especially under hot-and-high conditions. The aircraft can be prepared for transport by C-17 in just four hours, flown across the globe, and be rebuilt and returned to flying just as quickly at the destination, making it a highly mobile, deployable battlefield support helicopter.
Despite these upgrades, the RAF officially retired the fleet in late March 2025. As per RAF tradition, the Pumas performed a farewell flight on March 26, passing over historically significant locations in their operational history.
Earlier, Portugal provided Ukraine with eight SA-330 Puma helicopters as part of its military assistance package at the end of 2024. The transfer was officially documented in a report detailing Portugal’s aid to Ukraine and was later confirmed by the country’s Defense Minister.
The helicopters had been placed in storage in 2012 and were put up for sale in flight-ready condition in 2014.
One notable feature of the Portuguese SA-330 Puma is its advanced fire control system, which enables the deployment of Exocet anti-ship missiles.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
