In the middle of last week, in an event highlighted as historic by both sides, the Ministries of Defense of Germany and the United Kingdom signed a series of cooperation agreements. According to the announcement on October 23, the scope of the Trinity House Agreements on Defence ranges from increased cooperation between the British and German Armed Forces to strengthening their respective defense industries. Nevertheless, given the current European context, the situation in Ukraine, at war with Russia for more than two years, was also addressed in the agreements, where both governments confirmed that they would continue to support and expand aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. One of these initiatives would be to equip the donated Sea King helicopters with new and modern missiles.
At the end of 2022, the United Kingdom government confirmed the transfer of several of its Sea King helicopters to Ukraine, which had been decommissioned by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy years earlier. Although few details were provided, it is worth noting that the United Kingdom operated various versions of this aircraft in specialized variants: for search and rescue (HAR.3A), the early warning MK7, and the more modern and equipped MK4, which had been upgraded with new rotors, composite blades, countermeasure systems, and night vision.
Subsequently, the German government confirmed at the beginning of 2024 the transfer of six of its Sea King Mk41 helicopters, which were in the process of scheduled retirement and were replaced by the modern NH90 Sea Lion. It is also worth highlighting the donation made by Norway, which provided a spare parts package from its Sea King fleet, which, as in the German and British cases, was also decommissioned.
As for the announcement made by both defense ministries on October 23, it was stated that: “In the short term, we will collectively provide Ukraine with a new offensive capability, supporting the adaptation of the Sea King helicopters donated by Germany with modern missile systems.”
While it is specified that the recipients of these new capabilities will be the German Sea King MK41s, which will operate in the Naval Aviation of the Ukrainian Navy, the specific type of missiles to be installed was not mentioned, although there is speculation that they would focus on anti-surface warfare missions.
Various options could be considered, subject to feasibility studies, as these Sea Kings were originally used for transport and search and rescue missions in the German Navy. Options ranging from Brimstone 2 missiles to some version of the Exocet, supplied by MBDA, could therefore be evaluated.
Finally, to date, the final transfer of these six German helicopters to Ukraine has not been confirmed. It is believed that the selected aircraft are being prepared in Germany for subsequent shipment, considering that in early August, the last Sea King was retired from the German Navy after 50 years of service.
Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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