LONDON - The British Army's fleet of Westland AH.1 Gazelle observation/utility helicopters will receive a service-life extension aimed at keeping the fleet operational through 2025. The Gazelle fleet has been in active military service since 1971, already making it one of the oldest functioning platforms in the operational U.K. inventory. The life-extension program will be supplemented by an in-service support contract that will run from 2018 through 2025.
The British Army's primary utility helicopter component is composed of two platforms, the AgustaWestland Lynx AH Mk9A and the newer AgustaWestland AW159 Lynx Wildcat. The Lynx Mk9As will remain in service until 2020 at the earliest.
The Gazelles, while used in the utility role, mainly perform observation missions. Retaining them through 2025 allows the Ministry of Defense to focus procurement finances on other projects - namely the F-35, P-8A Poseidon and Successor-class submarines - while pushing a Gazelle observation helicopter project out beyond the Joint Force 2025 outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR).
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