This Puma originally started life as a SA330L with the South African Air Force (Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) serial 144 before being converted to a RAF Puma HC1. ZJ954 was one of six acquired from the SAAF and was the first of the batch refurbished by Eurocopter Romania. All six helicopters were purchased in early 2002 as attrition replacements and were serialled ZJ954-ZJ959.