Eurocopter and UK Ministry of Defence Sign Through-Life Support Contract for Royal Air Force Puma and Gazelle Helicopters

Eurocopter and the UK Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the through-life support (TLS) of the Royal Air Force fleet of all Puma and Gazelle helicopters on December 19, 2008. This contract will run up to end of March 2013.>> The TLS contract is a transformational logistic support solution in line with the UK MoDs approach to modernizing and rationalizing all of its support contracts for the total helicopter fleet of the UK Armed Forces. It replaces several former contracts between the MoD and Eurocopter for the support of RAF Puma HC1 and British Army Gazelle AH1 helicopters and includes firm commitments on equipment availability. This integrated package also paves the way for the projected Puma life extension programme (Puma HC2) due to be launched next year.>> Eurocopter will bring to this programme its extensive experience in providing integrated logistic and operational support to its military customers worldwide. The UK Puma & Gazelle TLS programme will be managed by Eurocopter with the support of logistics staff provided by its local subsidiary, Eurocopter UK Ltd.>> This is a very significant development in the maturing relationship between the UK MoD and Eurocopter. It is also the beginning of a wider partnered relationship between the Company and the UK MoD that Eurocopter intends to develop, within the framework of the UK Defence Industrial Strategy, and in view of the forthcoming new helicopter programmes like the Future Medium Helicopter (FMH).>>> Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2007, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the worlds No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover exceeding 4 billion Euros, orders for 802 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.