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PygmalionOfCyprus / cmo-db-requests

Public issue/request tracking for the Command: Modern Operations database
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Aircraft UAV Watchkeeper UK OOS 2026 *+Puma/Chinook #5406

Open KLABDB3K opened 2 days ago

KLABDB3K commented 2 days ago

DB Selector

DB3K

Affected DBID(s)

Both UK Watchkeeper Aircraft 2577 and 5433 entries (and OOS for old Chinook and Puma. HMS Bulwark) .

Summary of Changes

Watchkeeper Scrapped, still not operational and now obsolete, too big slow and toothless. 2025 *NB Aircraft 2577 in service of 2012 should be 2018. (Not the most successful UK Air project ever!) Aircraft 5433 - hypothetical or depricated?

*Also old Chinook models scrapped. Ship HMS Bulwark. Etc. Puma OOS, replacement program still seems in limbo. Checking BBC it says Puma is to be replaced by H-145 but that's an entirely different weight category helicopter which seems odd.

Sources

https://news.sky.com/story/uk-to-scrap-warships-military-helicopters-and-fleet-of-drones-to-save-money-despite-threats-abroad-13257285

UK Defence Secretary statements to the House etc.

KLABDB3K commented 2 days ago

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/update-on-defence-capabilities No mention of what will replace the non upgraded Puma's.

FrangibleCover commented 1 day ago

14 Chinooks is not the entire HC.4 fleet, no retirement date yet. To clarify the H145 thing:

https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-akrotiri-helicopter-capability-transfers-from-griffin-to-puma/ Griffin and Bell 212 have been retired and replaced by Puma as a stopgap.

https://des.mod.uk/122m-contract-sees-uks-fleet-of-airbus-h145s-expanded-with-six-procured-for-overseas-duties/ H145 will replace Puma in the roles that Griffin and 212 filled, as light utility and SAR types in Cyprus and Brunei.