Rotorhub 
What's next for the UK's military helicopter fleets?
While the introduction of the Chinook was making headlines at RAF Odiham there was further discussion about the government's new Future Helicopter Strategy first announced just before Christmas.
The strategy, which has essentially killed off the MoD's Future Medium Lift programme with the contract to purchase 22 new Chinooks, will ultimately bring the Chinook fleet to 70 aircraft.
But there are still many unknowns such as who will get the contract, while it seems likely that Boeing's Philadelphia might get the work, given the UK's 'preferred status' which could allow it to enjoy early slots ahead of the US Army and other Chinook customers, AgustaWestland is licence building the type under the ICH-47F programme which could allow the aircraft to be built in Europe and perhaps even here in the UK.
The MoD hope to have a finalised contract for the aircraft by the end of the year.
With 70 Chinooks, with perhaps more hinted by Quentin Davies, Odiham could be full to bursting point, forcing the RAF to split the fleet between the Hampshire base and RAF Benson where room will be freed up by the move of the Merlin Mk3/3A fleet to the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) ready to replace the Jungly Sea Kings in 2016.
One Fleet Air Arm crew has begun training on the MK3/3A fleet in preparation for the move. Despite reports that the aircraft would move to Culdrose, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt told Rotorhub.com that the basing decision was still undecided and assessements were ongoing as to whether the CHF would move to Cornwall or remain at Yeovilton.
Hailing the work of the SKASaC Sea Kings which had been deployed to Afghanistan using their radar system in the overland surveillance role, Johnstone-Burt also revealed that these aircraft will be replaced with a new variant of the Merlin Mk1 which is likely to be equipped with the same or similar radar equipment as the Sea Kings, although they will be configured is not yet clear. Eight aircraft will be involved in the conversion process, these are the aircraft not being updated to Merlin Mk2 standard by Lockheed Martin.
As previously reported on Rotorhub.com, the SAR-H project team is still yet to report on the prefered bidder for the harmonised contract due to begin in 2012, with an announcement due towards the end of January with internet sources suggesting an announcement on either January 22 or 27.
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