Page 86 - HeliOps Frontline Issue 26

86 HELIOPS FRONTLINE / ISSUE 26 / 2019

Since 2015, the Puma
Navals are equipped
to operate as an anti-
submarine warfare weapons
platform. For this task the
helicopters can be equipped
with torpedos on either side
of the hull.

same year, Bell Helicopters and IAR signed a letter of intent for
possible cooperation, if Romania were to buy the AH-1Z Viper
attack helicopter. In August 2017, the Romanian Defense Minister
signed a letter of intent with Bell Helicopter to acquire twenty-
four AH-1Z Vipers and twenty one UH-1Y Venoms for the country’s
armed forces. A year later, Bell promised the open an assembly,
maintenance and overhaul line in Romania for both the Viper and
Venom. In October 2018, the Minister of National Defense visited
Bell Helicopters in the USA. In the same month, Airbus Helicopters
threatened to suspend the construction of its factory in Brașov,
since none of the promised orders for the H215M had been received.
The replacement of the Puma Naval and expansion of the fleet
is necessary, since the core of the type dates from the 70s of the
last century. Mitric emphasizes the importance of replacing his
fleet: ‘A new type is really needed – by which type I don’t care –
as long as we can respond to recent developments in our direct
environment. The capabilities of our Puma Naval are limited, which
means that we cannot perform all of our missions. For example, the
type does not have a 4-axis autopilot. It is therefore not possible to
use a dipping sonar. Using sonobuoys is weather dependent, which
means we cannot act in all weather conditions.’ The small unit is
eagerly looking forward to the future but for now plans on the fleet
renewal remains unclear. n