A German journalist called the helicopters that Germany will transfer to Ukraine «junk»
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- Olena Kozubovska
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9:58, 25 January, 2024
Sea King Mk41. Photo: commons.wikimedia.orgGerman Sea King Mk 41 helicopters are «junk» that is dangerous for Ukrainian pilots.
This statement was made by journalist Julian Röpke, a columnist for the German newspaper Bild, on his page in X.
He said that the Sea King Mk 41 is being decommissioned from 2020 and is being replaced by the NH 90 NTH Sea Lion. They will be handed over to Ukraine with spare parts after the pilots undergo training in Germany.
The German journalist recalled that in 2014 the press actively wrote about these military helicopters. One article stated that «the problem with the Sea King is simple aging»: if in 2006 it required 50 to 60 hours of maintenance to provide one hour of flight, now it is up to 120 hours.
«We give junk to Ukraine. If you need 120 hours of maintenance to organize one safe hour of flight in a completely calm environment, this is a good old-timer,» concluded Julian Röpke.
The journalist emphasized that for a country at war with a small number of pilots and the presence of the enemy, this is simply «dangerous for the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.»
It will be recalled that earlier the Minister of Defense of Germany Boris Pistorius announced that his country will provide Ukraine with six Sea King Mk41 multi-purpose helicopters.