UK Royal Navy’s upgraded Commando Merlin helicopters achieve full operating capability
The Mk4/4a standard will ensure the Commando Helicopter Force have the capability to support 3 Command Brigade Royal Marines and other UK forces. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
A total of 19 Mk3 and six Mk3a Commando Merlin helicopters have now been upgraded to the Mk4/4a standard, with the work overseen by the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Leonardo and the Royal Navy (RN).
The procurement arm of the UK MoD, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and Leonardo have announced that the upgraded Royal Navy Commando Merlin helicopters have achieved full operating capability (FOC).
A total of 25 AW101 Merlin helicopters have been upgraded to Mk4/4a standard as part of the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP), delivered via a £339 million (US$421 million) contract with Leonardo.
According to Leonardo, the upgrade will ensure the force has capability to provide air manoeuvre support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, and other forces, across the globe.
Related Articles
Royal Navy upgrades Merlin helicopters
Upgrade work on the helicopters was completed by Leonardo Helicopters in 2022, with DE&S overseeing the retrofit upgrades to extend the helicopters’ life to 2030. Key upgrades to the helicopter include a new folding main rotor head and folding tail and an improved defensive aid suite with a missile warning system that locates hostile laser guided weapons.
According to DE&S, the upgrade has enabled the Merlin helicopter to be more effective in the conduct of littoral manoeuvre operations. Otherwise termed ‘littoral strike’, this is the term applied to amphibious operations using both air and surface craft, that launch from a ship to an objective.
Capt Neil Mathieson, RN Merlin Team Leader at DE&S, said: “The key difference between the Mk3/Mk3a and the new variant is the fact that the Mk4/Mk4a has been fully ‘ship optimised’ to allow it to embark and more efficiently operate from Royal Navy vessels.
“This means that the Mk4/Mk4a aircraft are globally deployable for all maritime operations. There have been significant changes to enable this, including a new folding main rotor head and folding tail.
“In addition, a brand-new suite of avionics has been integrated and obsolescence removed, aligning the cockpit to the Mk2 and extending the life of the platform to 2030.”
The AW101 Merlin is now cleared to operate from all RN aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, Type 23 frigates, Royal Auxiliary vessels and will operate from a Type 45 destroyer.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight]()
MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight
The US Marine Corps’ aircraft conducted the first test flight of the missile from Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
-
![First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed]()
First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed
The P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) is based on the Boeing 737NG airliner. It has been ordered by several countries, including Germany, and US Navy (USN) P-8s are being upgraded.
-
![Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal]()
Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal
Skydio has been contracted by Spain’s Ministry of Defence to supply the Skydio 10D rotary-wing UAV to the Spanish Armed Forces. The contact is likely related to the Spanish Army’s modernisation efforts which has been enshrined in the Fuerza 35 project.
-
![Lockheed Martin unveils new scalable counter-UAS system]()
Lockheed Martin unveils new scalable counter-UAS system
The scalable system was flown during a company-funded exercise to demonstrate its ability to detect, track and mitigate a mix of small uncrewed aerial systems, including drone swarms.
-
![Norway ups defence spend for Ukraine including $50 million for drones]()
Norway ups defence spend for Ukraine including $50 million for drones
Norway previously committed to spend NOK700 million on drones for Ukraine as part of a multinational effort in January 2025, as the latter country enters the third year-anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Russian forces.
-
![Raytheon completes flight test on AI-powered radar system for fourth-generation aircraft]()
Raytheon completes flight test on AI-powered radar system for fourth-generation aircraft
The radar uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to quickly process data, process and prioritise threats.
