The German Navy is decommissioning Sea King multipurpose helicopters.

The press service of the German Navy announced this.

The Naval Command reported that on March 20, Sea King helicopters made their final flight and landed at Kiel Holtenau.

The report noted that these helicopters have been serving in the Navy since the 1970s. They were used exclusively by the Navy for patrols, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine warfare.

The withdrawal of the Sea King from German service goes alongside the transfer of six helicopters to Ukraine as military aid announced earlier this year.

“The Sea King is a proven and reliable helicopter that will aid Ukrainians in many areas, from reconnaissance over the Black Sea to the transportation of soldiers. This is the first German delivery of these helicopters,” the German Defense Ministry reported.

They should strengthen the existing Ukrainian helicopter fleet, now consisting of three aircraft transferred by the UK.

Like the British equipment, the German helicopters were manufactured by the British company Westland, which should ensure appropriate unification.

Unlike the original helicopters of the American company Sikorsky, they are equipped with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, a fully computerized flight control system, and a British anti-submarine warfare system.

Sea King in Ukraine

Last April, BBC News journalists visited one of the units that operated Sea King handed over to Ukraine and talked to the crew.

The four-person crew was thrilled to demonstrate the helicopter. The military explained its importance. It is used to rescue the wounded, move troops, and conduct reconnaissance.

Co-pilot Vasyl shared that Sea King was exactly what the Ukrainian Navy needed. The practical and reliable aircraft could do everything that was required.

“I like this helicopter because it is incredibly good for flying,” Vasyl noted. “It’s one of the best for combat operations, whether it’s transporting equipment or conducting search and rescue operations. It is easy to fly even in difficult conditions.”

He shared that Sea Kings are used to search for pilots of downed aircraft, evacuate the wounded, transport the military, and deliver equipment.

Ihor, the engineer who maintains these helicopters, also said that the transferred British helicopters had been modernized, so very little of the original aircraft remained.

“They are old, but they have gone through modernization, and we need them very much. I believe this is just the start of our work together,” Ihor said.