Rotorcraft
UK Mulls Puma Replacement Plans
The UK operates an aging fleet of Puma support helicopters rapidly approaching the end of their service lives.
Leonardo is offering the AW149 medium utility transport to the RAF as its new medium support helicopter. Attributes include a high-sink rate undercarriage, 50-minute “run-dry” main gearbox, four-axis autopilot, and large cabin doors for loading cargo and rapid ingress/egress. (Photo: Leonardo)
Leonardo is offering the AW149 medium utility transport to the RAF as its new medium support helicopter. Attributes include a high-sink rate undercarriage, 50-minute “run-dry” main gearbox, four-axis autopilot, and large cabin doors for loading cargo and rapid ingress/egress. (Photo: Leonardo)

Originally developed as part of the wide-ranging Anglo-French helicopter agreement that also produced the Lynx and Gazelle, the Sud Aviation SA 330E Puma was built by Westland in the UK and entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1971. Despite 24 of the fleet having undergone the HC.Mk 2 upgrade program that added a glass cockpit, new tailrotor and gearbox, improved avionics and defenses, and more powerful Makila engines, the 50-year-old Puma is now nearing the end of its service life, which is currently set to expire in 2025.