The utility helicopters will be stationed in the eastern Mediterranean for emergency response, firefighting, troop transport, medical evacuation, and aerial reconaissance.
Two new Airbus Helicopters H145s have been delivered for use at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, with the rotorcraft to enter use with the service’s 84 Sqn.
Announcing the new assets’ arrival on 22 June, the UK National Armaments Director (NAD) Group said the Jupiter HC2s will be employed for tasks including “emergency response, aerial firefighting, troop transport, medical evacuation, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance”.
The medium-twins are part of a Ministry of Defence order for six H145s, valued at £148 million ($196 million). The lead two examples were transported to Brunei in April for use by the Army Air Corps’ 667 Sqn.
Following the arrival of the RAF examples in Cyprus, the NAD says, “The programme is well on track, with the remaining aircraft for each location due to be delivered by the end of July.”
The H145s are undergoing preparation at Airbus Helicopters’ Oxford airport site in the UK.
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