Aircraft
Eurocopter Puma Upgrade for UK Makes Progress
Under a contract signed in 2009, Eurocopter is upgrading 24 Puma Mk 2 helicopters with new engines, glass cockpits, digital autopilot and other improvements.
Eurocopter is upgrading 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk 1s to Mk 2 standard with new engines, avionics and other improvements. (Photo: UK Crown Copyright 2013).
Eurocopter is upgrading 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk 1s to Mk 2 standard with new engines, avionics and other improvements. (Photo: UK Crown Copyright 2013).

UK Royal Air Force (RAF) crews have begun training on the Eurocopter Puma Mk 2, although the two squadrons will not be cleared for service until 2015. Under a contract signed in 2009, Eurocopter is upgrading 24 of the 40-year-old helicopters with new engines, glass cockpits, digital autopilot and other improvements. Seven have been redelivered to date.

Fitted with the same two 1,700-shp Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshafts as the AS332 Super Puma, the Puma Mk 2 offers much greater range, endurance and payload than the original version. In particular, the Puma Mk 2 can lift 16 troops and a full fuel load in any temperature conditions. The aircraft have also received new composite tail-rotor blades, a tailboom reinforcement, fuel system modifications and a new Selex defensive aids system (DAS).

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