Norway to donate spare parts for Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
News story | Date: 09/07/2024 | Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
‘As co-chair of the Maritime Capability Coalition, Norway considers it important to ensure that Ukraine is able to build its Coast Guard and increase its maritime capabilities as rapidly as possible. Norway will donate spare parts for Sea King helicopters in order to help support the operation and maintenance of the helicopters that have been donated to Ukraine by Germany,’ said Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram.
Sea King is an older type of helicopter and finding spare parts can be difficult. The Sea King helicopters were in service in Norway from 1973 until 2023, and have now been replaced by SAR Queen helicopters. The Norwegian helicopters have reached their maximum number of flight hours, and cannot be donated.
‘The Black Sea and the maritime domain in general are of strategic importance to Ukraine, and are crucial to the country’s ability to export goods. The Maritime Capability Coalition is targeted towards the Ukrainian Naval Forces as a whole, and encompasses the full breadth of maritime capabilities, including the Ukrainian Coast Guard. I am pleased that spare parts from our discarded Sea Kings can help make a difference for Ukraine, and facilitate the efforts to establish the Ukrainian Coast Guard,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
Germany has decided to donate six Sea Kings to Ukraine, while the UK plans to donate three. Norway is donating spare parts in connection with the six aircraft being donated by Germany.
