The United Kingdom will transfer Puma HC.2 helicopters to Ukraine, which were recently retired from service with the Royal Air Force.

Avions Légendaires reported on this.

According to the information with which the media is in possession, the UK Ministry of Defense will transfer 8 to 10 Puma helicopters to Ukraine, which were decommissioned on April 31, 2025.

The last place of service for these helicopters was the 33rd Squadron and the 230th Squadron Royal Air Force, which used their helicopters in East Asia.

While in service with the Royal Air Force, the Puma helicopters were considered ‘workhorses’ and were involved in all operations in which the United Kingdom participated, starting from 1971.

After long-term service in the 2000s, a program to extend the service life and upgrade the helicopter’s systems began. In 2007, the Royal Air Force launched a program to extend the service life of its Pumas, known as the Life Extension Programme.

Initially, 28 HC.1 helicopters were planned for modernization, but eventually, only 24 were upgraded to the HC.2 standard. The improvements included the installation of more powerful Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines (1,800 hp each), upgrades to the avionics (including the installation of a “glass” cockpit), enhanced protection systems, and an increase in fuel capacity.

The modernization was performed by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter) and cost £260 million.

By the end of March 2025, the helicopters were completely decommissioned from the Royal Air Force.

Following RAF tradition, on March 26, the helicopters made a farewell flight over locations significant to their history.

Militarnyi previously reported that at the close of 2024, the Ministry of National Defence of Portugal delivered eight SA-330 Puma helicopters to Ukraine as part of a military assistance package.

The helicopters, which were placed into storage in 2012, were made available for sale in 2014 in fully operational condition, ready to support Ukraine’s defense efforts.