Portugal has transferred eight SA-330 Puma helicopters to Ukraine as part of a military aid package approved at the end of 2024.
This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Portugal.
The helicopters were sent to storage in 2012 and put up for sale in operational condition in 2014.
A key feature of the Portuguese SA-330 Puma helicopters is their advanced fire control systems, which allow the launching of Exocet anti-ship missiles.
Additionally, the nose section houses an ORB-31 radar system, which provides sea target identification, navigation, and fire control, significantly enhancing combat task efficiency at sea.
The SA-330 Puma helicopters were a vital part of the Portuguese aviation from 1970 to 2009, actively participating in operations in North Africa during the colonial wars. In recent years, they were used for troop transport and search-and-rescue operations.
Overall, Portugal purchased 13 helicopters of this type, which were replaced in the 2010s with modern EH-101 Merlin helicopters of British-Italian production.
