The contract – valued at approximately 60 million euros – further reinforces Eurocopter UK’s footprint as on-shore service provider to the UK armed forces. Eurocopter UK’s support activity for the Puma Mk2 will be coordinated through its headquarters at Oxford, England, which is close to the RAF’s Puma main operating base.

As a major onshore supplier to the UK government and its agencies, we are proud to further expand our services in the military environment with this latest contract,” explained Markus Steinke, the Managing Director of Eurocopter UK. “We intend to leverage our significant support expertise from Britain’s civil helicopter hub at Oxford, which is proven to be highly reactive and cost effective, and introduce this into the Puma fleet – setting new standards in military helicopter support.”

Group Captain Malcolm French, the Puma Project Team Leader said “We are looking forward to working closely with Eurocopter UK during this new era in the operational life of the RAF’s Puma Force. In particular, we have high expectations for the support capabilities delivered by and through Eurocopter UK’s team at Kidlington, as we move to field this significant component of the UK’s battlefield support helicopter capability during 2013.”

The 24 Puma Mk2 rotorcraft covered by this support contract are being upgraded under the Puma Life Extension Programme contract awarded to Eurocopter UK in 2009 by the UK Ministry of Defence. All 24 helicopters have been inducted into the programme, with the first aircraft deliveries from Eurocopter UK made in 2012. To date, eight have completed the process. The upgrades will significantly enhance the Puma’s operational capabilities for the Royal Air Force in combat, troop transport, load movement and humanitarian operations, and extend these helicopters’ operational lifetime to at least 2025.

Improvements for the Puma Mk2 include the use of new Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines that considerably increase performance; the integration of a full glass cockpit incorporating modern avionics and a flight management system; the implementation of a digital automatic flight control system; as well as the incorporation of a secure communications suite, defensive aids and ballistic protection for crew and passengers.

Additionally, greater onboard fuel capacity and lower fuel consumption improve the Puma Mk2’s operating range. These upgraded aircraft are able to carry twice the payload over three times the range compared to its predecessor in the most demanding operational and environmental conditions.

About Eurocopter UK Ltd. Eurocopter UK Ltd, Britain’s civil helicopter hub, and its predecessors have been present and highly active in the United Kingdom for over 30 years, dominating the civil rotary wing(rw) sector. Its contribution to the aerospace sector of the national economy includes the development of police aviation leading to a 75% market share, air ambulances (70% share), and well over 50% of the offshore oil and gas market. Eurocopter UK Ltd is headquartered in Oxford, with additional bases in Dublin (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Hawarden (Wales) and Aberdeen (Scotland) and provides the full range of products and services for the rw sector, including prime contractor of the RAF Puma Mk2 programme. Some 450 Eurocopter helicopters form the biggest part of the UK's helicopter fleet and the backbone of vital national infrastructure such as 100 helicopters serving the UK Ministry of Defence for transport, training and high end operational missions. Eurocopter enjoys a reputation for innovation, high quality and a strong customer service ethos. To date, Eurocopter UK Ltd has exported helicopter High-Tech solutions to 23 nations on all continents. The Eurocopter group employs more than 1600 people across the British Isles.

About Eurocopter

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace and defense-related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 22,000 people. In 2012, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 6.3 billion Euros, orders for 469 new helicopters and a 44 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33 percent of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter’s strong international presence is ensured by its subsidiaries and participations in 21 countries. Eurocopter’s worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents supports more than 2,900 customers. There are currently more than 11,780 Eurocopter helicopters in service in 148 countries. Eurocopter offers the most comprehensive civil and military helicopter range in the world and is fully committed to safety as the most important aspect of its business.