Newsroom
The Royal Air Force has added two new Airbus H145 Jupiter HC Mk2 helicopters to its fleet in Cyprus, boosting the capabilities of 84 Squadron and replacing aircraft previously used for a range of military and emergency support missions.
The helicopters have arrived as part of a £148 million programme funded by the UK Ministry of Defence, which has progressed from contract signing to operational service in just two years. The project includes six aircraft in total, with the remaining helicopters expected to be delivered to Cyprus and Brunei by the end of July.
Based in Cyprus, the new aircraft will be used for emergency response operations, aerial firefighting, troop transport, medical evacuations and intelligence-gathering missions. They take over duties previously performed by the Puma HC2 fleet, which has now been retired.
British defence officials described the delivery as an important step in modernising military aviation assets stationed overseas. The H145 platform is intended to provide a more flexible and efficient capability while reducing the number of helicopter types operated by the UK's armed forces.
Two of the six helicopters are already operating with British military units in Brunei, while the latest pair has now entered service with British Forces Cyprus. The final aircraft allocated to both locations are expected within weeks.
The programme also carries an economic benefit for the UK, supporting around 250 jobs at Airbus facilities in Oxford. A separate support agreement is linked to roughly 30 additional specialist positions, including personnel assigned to Cyprus and Brunei.
According to Airbus Helicopters UK, the latest contract increases the UK Ministry of Defence's total H145 fleet to 13 aircraft, covering both training and operational roles.
The arrival of the new helicopters strengthens the RAF's ability to respond to emergencies and support military operations from Cyprus, a key location for British defence activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
