UK gets final upgraded Merlin Mk2
The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP) has marked a significant milestone with the handover of the final upgraded Merlin Mk2 helicopter on 28 July.
Under the £750 million MCSP contract Lockheed Martin and Leonardo upgraded 30 Mk1 helicopters with enhanced capabilities to extend their service life for the Royal Navy.
The Merlin Mk2s have new radar, sonar systems, infra-red cameras, as well as large flat panel displays, giving pilots improved situational awareness.
The first upgraded aircraft was handed over in November 2012; since being in operation with the navy, the Merlin Mk2s have been deployed for a number of operations including in Sierra Leone.
Bob Kramer, vice president of Lockheed Martin UK – integrated systems, said: ‘Merlin continues to be a world beating maritime helicopter that is an asset critical to UK defence and that will be an integral part of the future aircraft carrier capability.
‘The success of this programme has been a result of excellent teamwork among industry and our government partners that has enabled us to consistently deliver on cost and schedule.’
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Uruguay's African peacekeepers to receive new support helicopter]()
Uruguay's African peacekeepers to receive new support helicopter
The donation of a utility helicopter by the UA will increase the Uruguayan peacekeeping deployment’s air support capabilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
-
![Turkiye's Gokbey helicopter marks first indigenous engined flight]()
Turkiye's Gokbey helicopter marks first indigenous engined flight
On April 22, 2023, Turkish Aerospace’s T-625 GOKBEY general-purpose helicopter conducted a test flight with an indigenous TEI-TS1400 engine for the first time.
-
![Canada to upgrade AW101 rescue helicopters in-country under Leonardo-IMP deal]()
Canada to upgrade AW101 rescue helicopters in-country under Leonardo-IMP deal
Canada's IMP Aerospace will carry out upgrades on 13 of the 16 AW101 aircraft covered by the CMLU programme under a sub-contract from Leonardo Helicopters UK.
-
![US Coast Guard to upgrade radars for MH-60 and MH-65 helicopter fleets]()
US Coast Guard to upgrade radars for MH-60 and MH-65 helicopter fleets
New Honeywell IntuVue RDR-7000 weather radars will be installed on USCG MH-60 and MH-65 helicopters.
-
![Royal Navy helicopter crews transfer control of UAS in European first]()
Royal Navy helicopter crews transfer control of UAS in European first
Using technology supplied by QinetiQ, two Royal Navy helicopter crews successfully exchanged control of a UAS while in flight.
