AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
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OnlineThe Armchair Soldier
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Re: Merlin helicopters
Merlins and other FAA helicopters at Yeovilton Air Day 2015:
Credit to Chen Peng:
https://twitter.com/ChenPengPhotos
Credit to Chen Peng:
https://twitter.com/ChenPengPhotos
- shark bait
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Re: Merlin helicopters
Can on of you please confirm that a
Merlin HC3 = Mk3
Merlin HC4 = fututre Mk3
And H.C4 = Sea King
And that I didn't make any major mistake in this piece:
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2908
And I hope the pictures are ok to illustrate the whole thing...
This is all so confusing... the Royal Navy always use the "Mk" designation in their press releases so it is hard to keep track when AgustaWestland talk about HC3/3A etc...
Merlin HC3 = Mk3
Merlin HC4 = fututre Mk3
And H.C4 = Sea King
And that I didn't make any major mistake in this piece:
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2908
And I hope the pictures are ok to illustrate the whole thing...
This is all so confusing... the Royal Navy always use the "Mk" designation in their press releases so it is hard to keep track when AgustaWestland talk about HC3/3A etc...
Re: Merlin helicopters
xav wrote:Can on of you please confirm that a
Merlin HC3 = Mk3
Merlin HC4 = fututre Mk3
And H.C4 = Sea King
And that I didn't make any major mistake in this piece:
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2908
And I hope the pictures are ok to illustrate the whole thing...
This is all so confusing... the Royal Navy always use the "Mk" designation in their press releases so it is hard to keep track when AgustaWestland talk about HC3/3A etc...
The designations are correct, Xav. I'll just add that to further the confusion, there are the 6 HC3A, future HC4A, which are the ex-Denmark Merlins picked up as urgent purchase a few years back.
However, Jane's report on this says that only the first of 7 Interim Merlins has been completed and delivered. The other 6 will be delivered for service by april next year. Unfortunately, not all 7 have been navalised yet... that'll take a while.
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- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Merlin helicopters
Has the low number of Interim Merlins anything to do with the short remaining service life of the HMS Ocean? I.e. putting on her anything that the mission requires (RM, AHs...) until the first carrier becomes available
- there will still be a gap as the sea trials could be a long-drawn out affair
- there will still be a gap as the sea trials could be a long-drawn out affair
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: Merlin helicopters
Looks like the RN's new green Merlins have been provided with an EO turret, something that is conspicuously lacking from the HM2. No idea what it is though.
Re: Merlin helicopters
They already had the FLIR turret, it is not a new addition.RichardIC wrote:
Looks like the RN's new green Merlins have been provided with an EO turret, something that is conspicuously lacking from the HM2. No idea what it is though.
The anomaly is the HM2 continuing not to have an EO/IR sensor as standard fit.
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Re: Merlin helicopters
Well, now that is interesting. How should we read it, and is it still going ahead? It comes from a contract notice published on December 5, 2014.The Air Platform Systems (APS) Platform Protection team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (‘MOD’), intends to amend an existing contract with Petards Joyce-Loebl Limited for the procurement and through life support of an additional 12 M147/ALE47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (CMDS) which will be fitted to 12 additional Merlin aircraft which are to be added to the existing Merlin fleet.
There are always those 8 + 4 HM1 airframes sitting somewhere in a hangar...
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- shark bait
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Re: Merlin helicopters
That is very interesting. It does read as if those 12 aren't the in service aircraft. I wonder if at a values of £1.1million they thought its worth it just in case they ever get revived. It would be great if they are!Gabriele wrote:
Well, now that is interesting. How should we read it, and is it still going ahead? It comes from a contract notice published on December 5, 2014.
There are always those 8 + 4 HM1 airframes sitting somewhere in a hangar...
@LandSharkUK
Re: Merlin helicopters
Digging further, with the help of Ian Keddie, it looks like the MOD contract notice's language is completely and utterly misleading and the purchase is most likely actually part of the build up to a later deal in February this year for adding DAS to a greater part of the Merlin HM2 fleet.
The Merlin HM1 / HM2 is born without a DAS. A very small number of DAS kits, possibly 4, was added as UOR when the Merlin HM1 was sent to operate in maritime security role in the Gulf, where a MANPADS / SAM threat does exist. The kits are rolled on onto the HM2, which is ready to use them. And these might be just 12 additional DAS sets for the existing HM2 fleet, despite the wording in the MOD notice.
The Merlin HM1 / HM2 is born without a DAS. A very small number of DAS kits, possibly 4, was added as UOR when the Merlin HM1 was sent to operate in maritime security role in the Gulf, where a MANPADS / SAM threat does exist. The kits are rolled on onto the HM2, which is ready to use them. And these might be just 12 additional DAS sets for the existing HM2 fleet, despite the wording in the MOD notice.
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Re: Merlin helicopters
I think each one is fitted. They employ the ALE47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (CMDS), but in a proper integrated fashion, instead of the UOR "block" combining ALE47 and sensors that you see on the fuselage of the HM1 and HM2 when it is fitted.marktigger wrote:what is the status of the HC fleet with regards DAS?
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Re: Merlin helicopters
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Re: Merlin helicopters
The Royal Navy’s AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter fleet has achieved full operational capability, with 80% of its eventual 30 modified aircraft having been returned to use.
https://flightglobal.com/news/articles/ ... oy-416749/
https://flightglobal.com/news/articles/ ... oy-416749/
- ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Merlin helicopters
From the same link:
Lockheed says a separate programme to equip the Merlin HM2 platform with updated defensive aids system equipment, ballistic protection and an electro-optical/infrared sensor will be completed next month[Oct]
- I wonder if Gaby was referring to this kit, or the previous?.
Lockheed says a separate programme to equip the Merlin HM2 platform with updated defensive aids system equipment, ballistic protection and an electro-optical/infrared sensor will be completed next month[Oct]
- I wonder if Gaby was referring to this kit, or the previous?.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
Re: Merlin helicopters
ArmChairCivvy wrote:From the same link:
Lockheed says a separate programme to equip the Merlin HM2 platform with updated defensive aids system equipment, ballistic protection and an electro-optical/infrared sensor will be completed next month[Oct]
- I wonder if Gaby was referring to this kit, or the previous?.
I guess that must be it. The last Merlin HM1 to go out are those employed on Maritime Security duties in the Gulf. A very limited number of machines which were fitted with a DAS "box" on the side of the fuselage, fast rope kit and EO/IR turret.
Now a larger number of Merlin HM2 will be fitted with DAS (and EO/IR ?).
All Merlin HM2 should be fitted for but not with DAS and EO/IR. A number will also be fitted.
I continue to find depressing like hell that Merlin does not have its own integrated EO/IR turret, by the way.
You might also know me as Liger30, from that great forum than MP.net was.
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Re: Merlin helicopters
24 of 30 Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 Helicopters Have Reached Full Operational Capability
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=3129The first 24 Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopters have achieved full operational capability. 6 Merlin Mk1 are still to be delivered as part of the 25-year Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP), awarded in January 2006 to Lockheed Martin UK.
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OnlineThe Armchair Soldier
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Re: Merlin helicopters
It looks like a Merlin and flies like a Merlin.....it's the first of seven next generation Merlin helicopters! The interim Merlin Mk3 (iMk3), has been delivered to 846 NAS marking yet another key milestone for CHF.
Bringing CHF one step closer to achieving full amphibious capability, the iMk3 has undergone a series of marinisation modifications to enable operation from RN and RFA ships, these include; folding main rotor head, strengthened undercarriage and communications upgrades and provide an interim maritime capable Merlin prior to the full upgrade to Merlin Mk4.
The Merlin Mk4 will have an upgraded avionics suite as well as provide a full amphibious capability with an automatic folding main rotor head and tail fold, optimised for ship operations.
Re: Merlin helicopters
No details at all. No numbers were given.Ianmb17 wrote:Did the remaining HM1s upgrade get mentioned in SDSR
But at least it says there will be 4 frontline Merlin HM2 squadrons, which means the running on of 849 NAS with the AEW mission is confirmed. If it was possible not to depend from just 30 machines for all roles, that really would be sweet... but it seems unlikely we'll see extra Wizards.
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Re: Merlin helicopters
I'd speculate (with zero factual backing) that when the UK announce that the next gen Apache will be ordered directly from the US, that AW will be given a small Merlin order as a bribe to keep their mouths shut. And to keep their local MP's happy. "to ensure the carriers have a full complement of helo's".
Re: Merlin helicopters
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Re: Merlin helicopters
Ron5 wrote:I'd speculate (with zero factual backing) that when the UK announce that the next gen Apache will be ordered directly from the US, that AW will be given a small Merlin order as a bribe to keep their mouths shut. And to keep their local MP's happy. "to ensure the carriers have a full complement of helo's".
Fingers crossed! the dollar they save on US apache's should pay for a few merlin airframes or even refurb the ones in storage for the Searchwater equipment.