Norway to provide Ukraine with spare parts for Sea King helicopters

According to Ukrinform, citing a press release from the Norwegian government, this was announced by Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.

"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," Gram said.

It is noted that Sea King helicopters were in service in Norway from 1973 to 2023, and have now been replaced by SAR Queen helicopters. The Norwegian helicopters themselves have reached the maximum number of flight hours, and therefore cannot be transferred.

"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 Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Germany has decided to donate six Sea Kings to Ukraine, and the UK plans to donate three more.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Norway will allocate an additional NOK 1.1 billion (over USD 73 million) to help restore Ukraine's damaged energy infrastructure.

Photo: Fabian Helmersen / Forsvaret