equipment / Aircraft
Merlin
Allowing the Royal Navy to flex its airborne muscles, the versatile Merlins defend maritime forces (MK2) and empower the Royal Marines (MK4) for elevated missions.
Merlin helicopter
Displacement
23 meters
Crew
3.8 tonnes
Miles
750 nautical miles
Length
160 knots
The ultimate sub-hunter
There are two types of Merlin helicopter currently in use in the Royal Navy. The MK2 features enhanced radar and sonar systems that make it a potent enemy sub hunter, but it is also used for maritime patrol and interdiction, troop ferrying, casualty evacuation, search and rescue and other contingency tasks.
Commando deployer
The other Merlin helicopter currently in service by the Royal Navy is the MK4, and this features several modifications for use by the Royal Marines. These include a fast roping beam that allows the rapid deployment of Special Forces from the main cabin door.
Muscle across the fleet
Since coming into service in 2014, the Merlin MK2s have been deployed from a number of platforms across the Royal Navy, including the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the Daring Class destroyers, the Duke Class frigates and the RFA vessels.
About the crew
Each Merlin helicopter has a crew of four, two observers – nicknamed ‘baggers’ - who are the mission and tactical specialists, and two pilots. The baggers provide airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) for other aircraft in the carrier’s strike group, such as the F-35s.
Highly capable & technologically advanced
Observing
Crowsnest technology
Providing surveillance and intelligence for the entire Royal Navy fleet
Crowsnest provides a vital surveillance capability to support the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. It uses a high power radar to provide long-range air, maritime and land-tracking capabilities to ensure the early detection of threats.
The distinctive-looking ‘bag’ containing the radar is attached to the fuselage by an arm and is lowered to a vertical position after take-off.
Preserving
Protecting the aircraft
How the Navy preserves the integrity of its aircraft in extreme conditions
The Royal Navy uses protective covers to shield Merlin helicopters in extreme environments. Known as ‘Extreme Cold Weather covers’, or ‘onesies’, these sheets are spread over the critically important parts of the helicopters to guard them against harsh arctic, jungle or desert weather conditions.
The covers can be placed over the nose, cockpit, cabin, engine and rotor blades in under an hour to protect the helicopters from temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius or as high as 80 degrees Celsius.
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