UK receives first H145 helicopter for Brunei, Cyprus missions

The first of six new Airbus Helicopters H145 rotorcraft to be used by the UK in Brunei and Cyprus was delivered on 12 May. (Crown Copyright)

The United Kingdom has received the first of six new Airbus Helicopters H145 rotorcraft to be used in Brunei and Cyprus.

Announced by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 12 May, the event, which saw the first of the helicopters that were contracted to take on the training and support roles of the Airbus Puma HC2 at both overseas locations, took place at the manufacturer's Oxford facility in England.

“The new fleet was ordered by [Defence Equipment and Support] DE&S a little over a year ago and, at Airbus Helicopters UK in Oxford, have undergone the modifications required to support UK troops overseas,” the MoD said. “The H145s will fulfil the operational requirements previously carried out by the Puma HC2s, whose withdrawal from service started in March this year.”

Signed in April 2024, the GBP122 million (USD152 million at the time) deal covered six D3-standard five-bladed helicopters to support the British Army's training mission in Brunei following the recent retirement of the Bell 212s and the Puma HC2s that served as an interim replacement, as well as the Bell 412s and their interim Puma HC2 replacements that performed search-and-rescue (SAR) and support duties at Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Known as the Jupiter HT1 (Helicopter Training Mk 1) in use with the UK Military Flying Training System at RAF Shawbury in England and RAF Valley in Wales, the H145 is designated Jupiter HC2 (Helicopter Cargo Mk 2) in its Brunei and Cyprus support roles.