News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 29 September 2009
The RAF’s fleet of
Puma helicopters will receive a £300M upgrade that will enhance
performance and enable it to operate in the toughest and most
demanding conditions the MoD announced today.
The upgrade includes a £220M contract to equip the Puma fleet for
at least ten years’ further service. Around £45M will also be
spent on the new engines with the remaining £35M being spent on
other contracts in support of the upgrade. The new Puma engines
will give 35 per cent more power and 25 per cent better
fuel-efficiency than the existing engines.
Twenty-eight Pumas, which can each carry up to 16 infantrymen,
are to be updated with new and more powerful engines, new flight
control equipment and modern cockpit and communications technology
and the MOD has options to add two further aircraft to the
programme. Deliveries are due to start in 2011 and the first 14
aircraft are planned to be in service by the end of 2012.
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support, Quentin Davies,
said:
“Upgrading the Puma is part of a series of improvements to our
battlefield helicopter force and shows our determination to give
our Forces the equipment they need.
“This programme will provide the RAF with 28 helicopters that are
able to meet the requirements of battlefield commanders to
transport troops in the hottest and most demanding conditions that
we encounter in Afghanistan. The upgrades amount to a significant
capability enhancement for the aircraft.”
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton,
said:
“Today’s announcement confirms a significant uplift to the
capability of Puma with more powerful engines and modern avionic
and flight control systems to ensure it can operate effectively in
the toughest conditions, including Afghanistan, for at least
another decade.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
1. The RAF currently operates a fleet of Puma support helicopters
in two operational squadrons, 33 Squadron based at RAF Benson and
230 Squadron based at RAF Aldergrove. The Pumas are used as
battlefield helicopters within the Joint Helicopter Command.
2. Prime contractor for the Puma Life Extension Programme is
Eurocopter UK. UK sub contractors include Thales at Raynes Park,
London and Leicester, Chelton at Yatton near Bath, Smiths at
Gloucester, Rockwell Collins in South Wales, QinetiQ at Boscombe
Down, Wilts and Selex at Luton. The new Puma engines will be
supplied by Turbomeca.
3. The Puma can carry up to 16 troops and their equipment. Across
a range of missions there are significant improvements in the
range and payload capability of the aircraft, with a three-fold
overall capability improvement. These improvements are most
evident in the hottest and highest conditions. This will enable
the Puma to be deployed worldwide to meet the demands of the Armed Forces.
For stills and imagery please go to www.defencenewsimagery.mod.uk
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For further information contact:
Squadron Leader Al Green, MoD press office: 020 72181534 (DMC-NewsRAFSO2@mod.uk)
Tim
Lewis, MoD Defence Equipment & Support press office: 0117
913 0526 (tim.lewis684@mod.uk)
Contacts:
Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk