RAF helicopter early retirements in UK defence cuts

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is to phase out the Royal Air Force’s 17 remaining Puma HC2 and 14 older Chinook support helicopters, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced in the House of Commons on November 20, 2024. In a written statement to Parliament providing further detail, Healey said the Pumas will be withdrawn when the RAF’s current support contract with Airbus Helicopters for the type ends in March 2025. Regarding the Chinooks: “Decommissioning of the oldest 14