Britain Prepares to Modernize Its Puma Helicopters

Back in August 2006, "Britain to Privatize Battlefield Support Helicopters?!?" discussed one of the most unusual public-private proposals we've ever seen.

The question before the Ministry of Defense was how to replace Britain's Sea King and Puma HC1 medium helicopters, which entered service during the 1960s and 1970s. Complaints about the lack of battlefield helicopter support are becoming acute in Britain, resulting in temporary fixes like buying 6 operational Danish EH101 helicopters and paying the cost of future replacements.

The longer term roadmap remains uncertain – but a recent announcement by Eurocopter as part of the DESO's annual DSEi defense show may shed light on which way Britain is leaning…

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