Eurocopter and UK MoD sign contract for RAF Puma Life Extension Programme
Eurocopter and United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence Eurocopter UK and the British Ministry of Defence signed a contract on September 18 for the Life Extension Programme for 28 of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Puma Mk1 helicopters.
The upgraded Pumas, which will be designated Puma HC Mk2, will consequently offer significantly enhanced performance and operational capabilities, thus being capable of remaining in service until at least 2022. The contract is valued at ₤220 million (€250 million) and is due to be completed by December 2014.
The programme is based on comprehensive upgrades, including new Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines, a glass cockpit, new communications, navigation and defensive systems, and a digital autopilot. The Puma HC Mk2’s performance and payload will be substantially increased, particularly in hot and high conditions.
As a key pillar of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of medium lift helicopters, Puma continues to play a major role in operational theatres, delivering very high operational readiness levels.
Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling commented, “This contract represents an important new phase in Eurocopter’s long lasting and maturing relationship with the UK Ministry of Defence. We will bring to this programme our extensive experience in upgrading and enhancing helicopters, and in adapting them to the new scenarios and challenges arising from present and future deployment.”
Markus Steinke, Managing Director of Eurocopter UK, added, “As the British pillar of the Eurocopter Group, we are proud to sign this major contract strengthening our industrial expansion in the UK even more and enabling us to develop a widening partnership with the MoD, also in view of forthcoming new helicopter programmes such as Future Medium Helicopter (FMH).”
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