The UK Ministry of Defence on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, announced a two-year £33.6 million contract awarded to Airbus Helicopters UK to provide initial support and in-service maintenance for six H145 helicopters, strengthening emergency response and overseas training capabilities for the British Armed Forces.
The contract covers maintenance and support for the aircraft — known in UK service as Jupiter HC2s — which were ordered under a £122 million procurement managed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and signed just over 18 months ago. The helicopters will be operated by the RAF’s 84 Squadron in Cyprus, supporting emergency response and aerial firefighting, and by 667 Squadron of the Army Air Corps in Brunei, where they will be used primarily for jungle training.
The maintenance agreement directly supports 30 jobs, including 12 positions at Airbus Helicopters UK in Oxford, 10 roles in Cyprus, and eight in Brunei, the MoD said.
The announcement follows a recent milestone in the programme, with two additional H145s handed over to the MoD last week, bringing the total delivered to three. The first aircraft was handed over in May. Initial flying to qualify instructors is set to begin in the UK in the coming days, with the first helicopters scheduled to deploy to Brunei in February and Cyprus in March. All six aircraft are expected to be operational in theatre by the end of June 2026.
UK defence officials said the programme is progressing on an accelerated timeline, with all aircraft undergoing modification at Airbus Helicopters UK before deployment. Once operational, the Jupiter HC2 fleet will replace capabilities previously provided by the now-retired Puma HC2 helicopters.
Defence Minister for Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the contract would ensure the Army and Royal Air Force remain equipped with modern rotary-wing platforms for overseas operations, while supporting UK industry. Airbus Helicopters UK Managing Director Richard Atack said the company remains committed to delivering the aircraft and associated support on time, describing the H145 as a “first-in-class rotary-wing workhorse” for UK overseas commitments.
