UK Invests in Helicopter Fleets

The UK Ministry of Defence has delivered some of the most technologically advanced and well supported helicopter fleets in the world over the last year.

In the last 12 months, the Merlin Mk2, Puma Mk2, Chinook Mk6 and both the Royal Navy and British Army Wildcats have all been declared ready for operational use.

As a result, UK forces now have new military capabilities that can be deployed around the world, with the Merlin Mk2 currently delivering vital support in Sierra Leone to tackle the spread of Ebola; the Puma Mk2 preparing to contribute to NATO’s training and assistance mission in Afghanistan; and the Royal Navy Wildcat deploying for global maritime operations.

Attending an event at RAF Benson to showcase the enhanced capability of the Chinook Mk6, Merlin Mk2, Puma Mk2 and the new Wildcat helicopter, Defence Minister Philip Dunne said:

Along with making huge savings for the taxpayer, the government has invested some £6 billion to sustain and improve our helicopter capability over the last four years. We will continue this investment with a further £11 billion budgeted to be spent over the next decade.

I am grateful for the important role played by industry in these successes, particularly by our helicopter prime contractors. There is no doubt that the work across these businesses and their supply chains has brought huge benefits to the UK economy, with around 4,000 jobs sustained in Britain.

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Image: Royal Navy