
Ascent, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, is the Training Service Partner responsible for delivering the United Kingdom Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) program in partnership with the UK MOD.
Ascent awarded contract to Airbus Helicopters to supply a fleet of 29 H135 (to be called Juno) and 3 H145/EC145T2 (named Jupiter) helicopters to meet the rotary-wing training requirement.
In January 2020, four more H145 Jupiter were ordered with an additional simulator.
In November 2023 due to NMH delays were revealed plans to acquired at least six Jupiter HC.2 to be operated in Brunei and Cyprus
Ascent awarded contract to Airbus Helicopters to supply a fleet of 29 H135 (to be called Juno) and 3 H145/EC145T2 (named Jupiter) helicopters to meet the rotary-wing training requirement.
In January 2020, four more H145 Jupiter were ordered with an additional simulator.
In November 2023 due to NMH delays were revealed plans to acquired at least six Jupiter HC.2 to be operated in Brunei and Cyprus
News |

Six Jupiter HC Mk2 for UK Brunei and Cyprus Operations
14-Nov-23 - The UK ordered 6 Airbus H145 helicopters to be known as Jupiter HC Mk2 for the British Armed Forces in Brunei and Cyprus from 2024 #Jupiter
Another Jupiter Arrived at RAF Shawbury
27-May-20 - The Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) part of the United Kingdoms Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) took delivery at RAF Shawbury of a brand new Airbus EC145T2/H145 known as Jupiter HT1 in British service. It is the fourth delivered and three more are expected #Jupiter
UK MoD Orders Four More H145 Jupiter
22-Jan-20 - British Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed £183M contract for 4 new H145/EC145T2, or Jupiter HT.1, and an additional simulator to be added to the 3 helicopters already in use by private contractor Ascent in the joint Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) #Jupiter
First Graduates at British Juno / Jupiter School
27-Aug-19 - First 13 British Armed Forces pilots completed their training within the new Rotary Wing UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). The tri-Service Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) operating the Juno (H135) and Jupiter (H145) at RAF Shawbury since April 2018 under contract with Ascent #HelicopterSchoolMore News ... | ![]() |
---|---|
Units |
Years | Units | Base |
---|---|---|
2018- | DHFS | RAF Shawbury AAC Middle Wallop RAF Valley |
2018- | RAF 202 Squadron | RAF Valley Thorney Island closed 1976 |
List of Aircraft |
C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20215 | 2020 | G-RNGS MoD LTPA (Long Term Partnering Agreement) for BUTEC (British Underwater Test and... | ![]() ![]() | ||
20309 | 2020 | ZM496 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 | ![]() | ||
20310 | 2020 | ZM497 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 | ![]() | ||
20312 | 2020 | ZM498 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 | ![]() | ||
20313 | 2020 | ZM499 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 | ![]() | ||
20111 | 2016 | ZM500 00 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 /00 | ![]() arrived at RAF Shawbury | ||
20123 | 2017 | ZM501 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 /01, pictured | ![]() ![]() | ||
20133 | 2017 | ZM502 DHFS UKFMTS Jupiter HT.1 /02 | ![]() |