Germany has announced that it will provide Ukraine with six Sea King Mk41 multipurpose helicopters.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced this following the 18th meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine.

Germany will also provide training for the Ukrainian military.

“The Sea King is a proven and reliable helicopter that will help 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 said.

The statement does not contain any information on the terms of such delivery.

Ukraine believes that the meeting in the Ramstein format contained “enough important statements” from the partners to say that “strong support for Ukraine will continue.”

Opening the Ramstein meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called on the members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, particularly in the area of air defense.

Sea King

The German Sea King Mk41 was built in the UK by Westland Helicopters.

The German Navy ordered 22 Sea King Mk.41 helicopters from Westland Helicopters. All of them were delivered until 1974.

The German Sea Kings were modernized in 1986-1988, gaining the ability to carry Sea Skua anti-ship missiles.

Currently, Sea King Mk41s in Germany perform a variety of missions, including search and rescue, transportation, disaster relief, tactical land-sea transport, evacuation, surveillance, reconnaissance and maritime support. The helicopters are to be replaced by NH-90s.

As previously reported, the Ukrainian Navy already has Sea King helicopters in its arsenal. In November 2022, the UK announced the transfer of three similar helicopters to Ukraine.