The Royal Navy has received the final upgraded unit of its AW101 Merlin Mk3/3a submarine-hunting helicopter from Leonardo.
A total of 25 Merlin aircraft were sent to the Italian firm to undergo a life sustainment program and be converted to the Mk4/4a configuration.
According to the company, the upgraded choppers have been fitted with new cockpit avionics.
They also have a new folding main rotor head and folding tail to allow the aircraft to operate from the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and Albion-class landing ships.
With the modifications, the Merlin helicopters will now operate from amphibious ships and provide a sea-to-shore assault capability to British forces.
‘Game-Changing Upgrade’
In addition to avionics, the Mk4/4a Merlin helicopters have been integrated with a new tactical processor that allows aircrew to better understand their tactical environment and enemy threats.
The modification also includes a state-of-the-art Glass Panel cockpit display system with five separate screens to show moving maps and high-resolution images from the electro-optical camera.
The choppers have also been fitted with a new fast roping beam for rapid deployment of Special Forces.
“The Merlin Mark 4 is proving to be a game-changing capability upgrade for the CHF (Commando Helicopter Force),” CHF commanding officer Mark Johnson said.
“It has already demonstrated itself to be a critical enabler of the Royal Navy’s strategic outputs – contributing to the security of the UK and delivering the United Kingdom’s Commando Forces in the littoral.”