Upgraded Merlin AEW Helicopter Takes Flight from Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier

The Royal Navy’s advanced Merlin Mk2 helicopters, equipped with powerful radar systems, have officially become part of the UK’s flagship vessel for its autumn deployment. Two Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopters, delivered as part of the Crowsnest program, have undergone significant software upgrades in preparation for their integration into HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Setting sail from Portsmouth and heading north, the UK flagship leads a task force comprising partner nations while conducting exercises involving F-35 Lightning stealth fighters and Merlin helicopters. The ASaC helicopters employ their radar systems, which are positioned beneath the fuselage in a distinctive dome-shaped housing – a feature that has earned them the nickname ‘Baggers’ within the Navy – to scan the horizon for potential threats.

Commander Aidan Riley, who heads the Merlin Helicopter Force, remarked, “The system has undergone substantial capability enhancements since Crowsnest debuted during the carrier’s inaugural deployment to the Pacific in 2021. This year’s carrier strike group deployment marks a significant milestone for our ASaC capability. The helicopters and their crews are an integral part of the Merlin Helicopter Force, working alongside our trusted and highly experienced anti-submarine warfare experts.”

The Royal Navy’s upgraded Merlin Mk2 helicopters, operated by the highly trained crews, are tasked with detecting potential air and surface threats, and they can be employed to coordinate defense and strike operations. Each Merlin helicopter is crewed by three individuals – one pilot and two observers (the tactical operators) from the 820 Naval Air Squadron, which is based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall. These helicopters join the ship’s complement of submarine-hunting Merlins and anti-surface warfare Wildcat helicopters.

The Merlin Mk2 entered service in 2014 as an upgrade to the original 1990s Mk1 naval version. The Merlin Capability Sustainment Program introduced 30 Mk2s with a redesigned cockpit and advanced aircraft management computer systems. Enhancements to the radar and sonar systems ensure that the Merlin remains the world’s most formidable submarine-hunting helicopter. In addition to its primary submarine detection role, the helicopter is versatile, capable of performing a wide range of tasks, including round-the-clock maritime patrol and interdiction, armed with Sting-Ray Torpedoes, Mk11 Depth Charges, and the M3M .50 Caliber Machine Gun. It can also handle troop transport, casualty evacuation, medium lift under-slung loads, and various other contingency missions.

Hits: 26