The RAF in Cyprus has received two Airbus H145 Jupiter HC Mk2 helicopters for 84 Squadron.
The aircraft were delivered as part of a £148 million MOD programme which, according to the department, went from contract to operational capability in two years. The helicopters will take on tasks including emergency response, aerial firefighting, troop transport, medical evacuation, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, fulfilling requirements previously met by the retired Puma HC2 and, before that, the Griffin.
The delivery forms part of a six-helicopter contract placed by the MOD, which the department says supports 250 UK jobs at Airbus in Oxford. A further two aircraft are being operated in Brunei by the Army Air Corps’ 667 Squadron. A support contract with Airbus directly supports around 30 further skilled UK jobs, ten of which will be deployed to Cyprus and eight to Brunei, with the remaining 12 based at Airbus in Oxford.
Mark Langrill, Director Rotary Wing and Uncrewed Air Systems at the National Armaments Director Group, was quoted in the press release as saying: “Two years from contract signature to aircraft on the ground in Cyprus is a proud achievement for all involved. The H145 programme clearly demonstrates our ability to safely deliver a modern and reliable capability at pace whilst providing value for money and meeting the needs of our Armed Forces. This can only be achieved by the collaborative efforts of everyone across the MOD and support from industry.”
Group Captain J Brooks, Senior Responsible Owner for the programme, was quoted in the press release as saying: “Seeing the Jupiter HC Mk2 in Cyprus marks a significant milestone for Defence. The H145 platform delivers a modern, versatile capability that strengthens support to British Forces Cyprus, while contributing to the wider modernisation and rationalisation of our rotary-wing fleet.”
According to the MOD, the Jupiter HC Mk2 advances the UK’s Defence Rotary Wing Strategy, which aims to rationalise helicopter types across the fleet to reduce complexity, improve interoperability and drive down whole-life costs.
Richard Atack, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK, was quoted in the press release as saying: “With the addition of this six aircraft contract, the UK MOD will have a total fleet of 13 H145 across training and operational roles, demonstrating the growing trust in Airbus Helicopters’ ability to deliver best-in-class aircraft on time and cost.”
