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Ukrainians operating veteran Falklands war Sea King helicopter donated by UK
The Sea Kings spent most of their life in search and rescue operations. Photo: MOD BBC has reported that a military helicopter donated to Ukraine by the UK government was used in the Falklands conflict more than 40 years ago, but despite its age, the Ukrainian military says the chopper will help in the fight against Russia.
The government in Kyiv has requested modern fighter jets armed with long-range missiles to aid in a long-awaited new offensive against Russian forces. But the UK hasn’t provided any of its Typhoon fighter jets to Ukraine — it doesn’t have enough to spare, and it would take too long to train Ukrainian pilots to use them. There are also broader concerns that providing warplanes could escalate the conflict.
Instead, the UK has opted to give them two helicopters that either carry no weapons or fly particularly fast, and are no longer used by the Royal Navy, which retired the Sea Kings several years ago. One is so old that it saw service during the Falklands conflict, in 1982, playing a historic role.
Not so log ago, Prince William as a Sea King pilot was part of a SAR, Search and Rescue team stationed in the Falkland Islands.
In part, the answer to the choice of aircraft can also be found in Ukraine. The crew is clearly excited about the new helicopter. The Sea King was exactly what the Ukrainian Navy needed – a practical, reliable aircraft that could do whatever was required of it, have said its pilots.
Sea Kings are used to pick up victims who need urgent medical assistance, move Special Forces to position, and fetch and carry equipment.
One of the main tasks, is searching for downed airmen, which can include flying behind enemy lines. “The pilots have to get out, they need to be rescued. For this, we have to get to an area that is probably not under Ukrainian control,” admit the pilots.
Another answer to the question about the age of the aircraft can be found, perhaps, at the base in the south of England, where the third Sea King is being prepared, which will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. One of the engineers says that the Sea Kings are in fact mostly new, with very little left of the original helicopter.
“They’re old, but they’ve been through modernization, and we desperately need them. And I think this is just the beginning of our work together,” he says.
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Read all commentsActually the se Helicopters will have been modernised and refitted a lot over the years so are far from old relics as some suggest. Probably not much left at all of the one that flew in the Falklands at all.
Apr 14th, 2023 - 12:38 pm +1Regarding the Typhoons these are basically air combat fighters and not really what Ukraine needs- Ukraine needs Air/Ground attack jets- ie the F35 and correct UK only has a few so far and correct ,it would take many many months to train Ukranian pilots up on them and all the ground servicing crews. And time they do not have. Yes whatn they are receiving are pretty good jets they already know how to handle and maintain.
Shogun
Apr 15th, 2023 - 01:16 pm +1Aluminium doesn’t rust.
If you want scrap, there are thousands of Russian Tanks and armoured vehicles burned out and rusting in the fields of Ukraine, along with hundreds of wrecked helicopters.
Thank god for StarStreak and NLAW.
It must be becoming apparent even to you that the Russians are simply not winning in Ukraine, indeed in many places they are now on the defensive even before the expected Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun.
Have they captured Bakmut yet???
No, despite their best efforts and very, very high casualties, which tells you all you need to know about the state of play there.
Eilean Siar
The issue with ‘Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery’ aircraft like the F35C, is that even with electromagnetic launch and recovery systems rather than steam and the aircraft being ‘beefed up’, because of the stresses involved they have a much shorter life span than CTOL or STOVL aircraft.
I recall reading that carrier based F18s have only about 1/3 the lifespan of the land based ones.
The other advantage being STOVL aircraft can take off from a carrier or airstrip and land anywhere. The F35C or A cannot.
They are looking at AEW alternatives:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/competition-to-enhance-royal-navy-early-warning-capabilities/
I have often thought we should buy some F35C but operate them as land based, stationed in the Falklands where their greater range would put most of Argentina in striking distance, without the need to refuel in flight.
Perfect for the S. Atlantic and East Med, operating from Cyprus.
Eilean Siar
Apr 15th, 2023 - 03:14 pm +1In future it seems AEW, electronic surveillance/countermeasures, air to air refuelling, CAP and even strikes will all be done by stealth capable drones.
The new carriers are actually a ‘work in progress’ in terms of capabilities.
We shall see how it develops.
Shogun
Also, what happened to the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, which I recall you confidently predicted would succeed???
It didn’t, the power grid is still working and there have been no Russian attacks for weeks now.
The Russians seem to have run out of missiles and the Ukrainians now have the capability to shoot down most if not all missiles fired at military/power infrastructure targets.
The Russians can now only hit undefended civilian targets, which much as they like to do that, they know it will not win this war for them.
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