Government Delays Puma Contract
The Times has reported that the Government has delayed the £400m contract to upgrade the RAF’s Puma helicopters for political reasons. Under current plans, the MOD intends to extend the service life of both the Puma Mk1 and Sea King Mk4 helicopters before they are replaced by the Future Medium Lift Helicopter which is currently in its concept phase.
We have worked closely with Eurocopter, the manufacturer of Puma, to carry out the Puma Life Extension Programme (LEP) Assessment Phase and, as planned, we expect to make our main investment decision on this project this summer.
The Puma LEP will address obsolescence and safety issues and enhance capability. Upgrades will include a digital cockpit, more powerful Makila engines and an up-rated tail rotor.
These modifications will also provide significantly increased performance in the high temperatures and altitudes that characterise deployments in Afghanistan, enabling its deployment to this theatre, if necessary and desirable, from about 2013.
Source:- Ministry of Defence
Published by G&O Springs - Producing springs for the aerospace industry
May 28, 2009
