UK Defence cuts

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has announced the retirement of several ageing military assets, including Royal Navy ships, Royal Air Force drones, and helicopters, as part of a broader effort to modernise the UK’s Armed Forces and address significant financial pressures in the defence budget. The decision, which will see several key platforms taken out of service by March 2025, is expected to save up to £500 million over the next five years.

Looking at the aviation related budget cuts, the most significant is the early retirement of the Puma HC2 twin-engined medium transport/utility fleet, of which seventeen are reported to be operational. This helicopter was to be replaced by the winner of the New Medium Helicopter programme. However, this programme has been delayed several times.

The other aviation assets which were reported are fourteen of the oldest Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and the fleet of 46 Thales Watchkeeper WK450 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

As for the older Chinooks, this was already planned with the purchase of fourteen new CH-47F Chinook helicopters to replace the oldest Chinook HC6As in service. Scramble Magazine first reported on the Chinook deal in April 2021, and the FMS contract was awarded on 22 June 2021.

Credit photo: Anthony Osborne (via jetphotos.com)