royal navy puts merlin mk1 to the test

30 September 1998

The Royal Navy's latest Merlin HM Mk1 helicopter, designated RN08, has been delivered to the MOD by Prime Contractor, Lockheed Martin ASIC and their principal sub-contractor, GKN Westland Helicopters. The Royal Navy will take delivery of 44 Merlin HM Mk1's by the year 2001.

RN07 (to be delivered early 1999) and RN08 will be used for flight crew training before being handed over to the first Merlin Squadron, the Intensive Flying Trials Unit (700M), after it is commissioned later this year at RNAS Culdrose.

Merlin HM Mk1, the maritime multi-mission variant of the EH101, features a series of state-of-the-art mission systems including Radar, Active Dipping Sonar, Data Link and Electronic Surveillance Measures which enable it to carry our its Anti-Submarine Warfare/Anti-Surface Warfare role. The highly versatile system can fulfil many secondary missions including search and rescue, casualty evacuation, troop transportation and vertical replenishment.