Merlin Capability Sustainment Plus (MCSP) and future merlin

Now firmly established In Service, the Merlin is already being deployed in its primary role, operating from the Invincible Class carriers, Type 23 frigates, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries (RFA’s) and other vessels. Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Bach said: “Merlin is a proven aircraft which has delivered a quantum leap in capability and is crucially important for all types of maritime operations.”

Merlin Capability Sustainment Plus: This is a significant phase of the Merlin HM Mk1 Weapon System life cycle. MCSP will prepare Merlin to be a major contributor to control of the littoral underwater and above water battlespace and provide wider utility in other roles and scenarios including Operations Other Than War (OOTW).

The programme is focused on reducing the through life cost of ownership of the Merlin weapon system, particularly those arising from the pace of technological advances in electronic systems and 2004 will see the results of an assessment phase.  All aspects of the weapon system will be examined such as the helicopter, ground support and control systems as well as the support structure including the sophisticated Merlin University at RNAS Culdrose.

The solution will include the introduction of an open systems computer architecture which will facilitate both technology refresh (processing power and speed upgrades as new products emerge) and technology insertion (the introduction of new sub-systems and functions).

A particular area for study is improving the human machine interface (HMI). As mission systems become more versatile so the need for intuitive interfaces increases. Considerable attention is being paid to reducing operator workload whilst making simultaneous control of multiple and diverse functions a true reality. April 2004 saw the first major HMI demonstration to the Royal Navy and the programme has recently completed a system design review.

MCSP will significantly enhance the Merlin future multi-role capability potential in the maritime battlespace of the future.

In addition to the Merlin Prime Contract, Lockheed Martin manages two important support contracts for the Merlin Mk1 Weapon System:

• Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS)
• Merlin Training System (MTS)