Responding to a series of written questions from Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge MP (Conservative, South Suffolk), Defence Ministers confirmed that the transition away from Puma helicopters is being managed with active mitigation measures and planned replacements.
Luke Pollard MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, explained that two Chinook H-47 helicopters are currently deployed in Cyprus to provide aerial firefighting support during the wildfire season, and that one of these aircraft is scheduled for retirement under the plan to decommission the oldest 14 Chinooks in the fleet.
“There is no impact on Chinook fleet operational outputs as a result of the forward deployment of two Chinook H-47 to Cyprus,” Pollard stated.
Further detail came from Minister of State Maria Eagle MP, who addressed concerns about potential capability gaps resulting from the Puma drawdown in both Cyprus and Brunei. She confirmed that the Ministry of Defence “continues to routinely assess and reassess capabilities required by deployed UK forces.”
To support Commander British Forces Cyprus, she said, the Chinooks offer “an aerial firefighting capability through the wildfire season and are able to provide a range of supporting functions.”
As for Brunei, which previously relied on Puma helicopters for jungle training and mobility support, Eagle stated: “Mitigations against jungle training in Brunei are in place,” though she added that “it is the long-standing policy of the UK Government not to comment on UK Special Forces activity.”
To ensure continuity of capability, she confirmed that six Airbus H145 Jupiter HC2 helicopters will begin operations in both Brunei and Cyprus from 2026.
Photo by Adrian Pingstone, from Wikimedia Commons.