Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the comments by the Prime Minister published in the Telegraph on 16 February 2025, whether he plans to proceed with the decommissioning of fourteen CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters over the next four years, synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) from 2027 onwards, represents the optimal transition that delivers the new aircraft and trained aircrew.

Likewise, it remains the Department's position to retire Puma on 31 Mar 25 while the new Airbus H145 HC2 Jupiter helicopter will enter service from 2026 in both Brunei and Cyprus. In the interim, the Department continues to assess any capability gaps and will deploy Chinook to Cyprus in support of the wildfire season.