Westland Puma

The Puma is a tactical transport which entered RAF service in 1971. Selection of the design arose from an RAF requirement to replace Belvedere and Whirlwind helicopters then in service. An agreement between was signed in 1967 between Westland and Sud Aviation (later known as Aerospatiale) covering licence production of 48 SA330Es which were to be known as Puma HC1s in RAF service. The Anglo-French agreement also covered the production of 292 SA341 light helicopters (known as Gazelles). In return the French were granted licence production of 40 Westland Lynx helicopters.