The Ukrainian military discussed Sea King helicopters
13 April, 2023 Sea King helicopter of the Ukrainian Navy. April 2023, Ukraine. Photo credits: BBC News
The Ukrainian Naval Forces received British Sea King helicopters. Helicopters arrived as military and technical assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They are used for search and rescue missions, as well as for personnel transportation.
BBC News journalists visited one of the two Sea Kings handed over to Ukraine and talked with the crew. Last year it was reported that Great Britain trained ten Ukrainian crews for Sea King helicopters. The four-man crew enjoyed showing off the new helicopter.
The military told how important it is for them on the battlefield, where it is used for rescuing casualties, moving troops, and carrying out reconnaissance.
Sea King helicopter of the Ukrainian Navy. April 2023, Ukraine. Photo credits: BBC News
Co-pilot Vasyl shared that the Sea King is exactly what the Ukrainian Navy needs.
A practical and reliable aircraft can do everything needed. "I like this helicopter because it is incredibly good for flying," Vasil says. "It's one of the best for combat operations, whether transporting equipment or carrying out search and rescue. It is easy to fly even in difficult conditions."
It is noted that the Sea King is used to search for downed pilots, evacuate the wounded, transport troops, and deliver equipment. Plans to transfer three helicopters of this type to Ukraine were first announced in November last year. Ukraine has already received two Sea King helicopters.
According to the BBC, another one will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. British journalists emphasize that these helicopters are quite old. However, they note that the boards have been updated and meet modern requirements.
These helicopters were decommissioned by the British Armed Forces in 2018.
Sea King helicopters. Photo credits: Royal Navy of Great Britain
British journalists also spoke with two Ukrainian engineers who stayed in the UK for seven months and were learning to repair and maintain helicopters of this type. Ihor, one of the engineers, shared that the Sea Kings are, in fact, mostly new, with very little of the original helicopter remaining.
"They are old, but they have gone through modernization, and we need them very much. I believe this is just the start of our work together," Ihor said.
The media emphasizes that these Sea Kings might be old, few in number, and not the fixed-wing aircraft Kyiv wants to help turn the military balance.
However, the Ukrainian navy says it is happy to have them - and it wants more. "We would like to receive more helicopters like these," Vasyl said.