28-May-2018Source: Leonardo
Guto Bebb MP, Minister for Defence Procurement, announced the delivery of the first AW101 Commando Merlin Mk4 helicopter during a ceremony held at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton yesterday. The event marks a major milestone for Leonardo’s Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP) contract to convert 25 former Royal Air Force Merlin helicopters to fully marinised... Read more
23-Oct-2017Source: Royal Navy
A Merlin Mk2 helicopter lands on the deck of the first of the RFA’s new fleet of tankers for the first time. RFA Tidespring, the first of four 39,000 tonne Tide-Class tankers, completed her Air Sea Acceptance Trial with the helicopter from QinetiQ at Boscombe Down. Commanding Officer, Captain Simon Herbert, said: “Achieving the aviation... Read more
24-Jul-2017Source: Royal Navy UK
Pale grey is the new green. This is the very first of the Royal Marines new steeds to drop in on its future home. This is a second-generation battlefield Merlin, factory model MLSP 1, tail number ZJ122, making a brief debut at Yeovilton. It went into the factory at nearby Leonardo (previously Agusta-Westland) in Yeovil... Read more
23-Nov-2016Source: Leonardo Group
Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced today the first AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4 successfully completed its maiden flight on 24th October 2016 at its Yeovil facility in southwest England. Leonardo is upgrading 25 Royal Navy Merlin Mk3/3A aircraft to Merlin Mk4/4A standard as part of the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP) contract. The MLSP contract is valued at £330... Read more
17-Jul-2014Source: Royal Navy
Since successfully entering service with the Royal Navy, the aircraft have been put through their paces on exercise in the Atlantic Ocean. Embarked on HMS Illustrious, the Merlin Mk2 aircraft took part in Exercise Deep Blue, simulating anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and casualty evacuation capabilities. The new helicopters are part of an £800 million programme... Read more
