Airbus Helicopters UK has signed a $45 million contract to provide initial support and maintenance for the fleet of six H145 helicopters of the UK Armed Forces, locally known as Jupiter HC2.
The two-year agreement was awarded by Defence Equipment & Support and is part of a larger acquisition, valued at $163.5 million, concluded just over 18 months ago.
The aircraft will be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Cyprus on emergency response and aerial firefighting missions, and by the Army Air Corps in Brunei, where they will play a central role in jungle training. To date, three helicopters have already been delivered, and initial qualification flights are expected to start in the UK in the coming days, with the first deployments to Brunei and Cyprus scheduled for February and March, respectively.
According to the Ministry of Defence, all six helicopters are expected to be fully operational by June 2026, replacing the capabilities previously provided by the Puma HC2. Authorities note that the contract ensures operational readiness for both the Army and the RAF, while creating around 30 jobs in the UK and overseas.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @RoyalAirForce | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
A contract with @Airbus will keep six new H145 “Jupiter HC2” helicopters mission-ready for emergency response, jungle training, and more. ✅
Supporting British jobs across the UK, Cyprus and Brunei, this milestone strengthens national security and global presence. 🌍
#Jupiter pic.twitter.com/p2TfxVsZiM— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) December 15, 2025
