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Photo Info
A group of people stand in front of a Merlin Mk2 helicopter

30th Merlin MK2 delivered to U.K. Ministry of Defence

Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 14 seconds.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of the 30th upgraded Merlin Mk2 helicopter from industry.

Lockheed Martin U.K. joined representatives from the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence for a ceremony to mark the handover of the final airframe at Leonardo’s facility in Yeovil, England.

A group of people stand in front of a Merlin Mk2 helicopter
The Merlin Mk2s have new radars, sonar systems, infra-red cameras as well as large flat, panel displays, giving pilots greater situational awareness. Lockheed Martin Photo

For the last 10 years, employees from both Lockheed Martin and Leonardo have been involved in the design, development and manufacture of the Merlin Mk2 as part of the Merlin Capability Sustainment Program (MCSP).

Under the £750m contract, 30 Mk1 helicopters were upgraded to enhance and extend their life with the Royal Navy.

The first helicopter was handed over in November 2012 and the event this week marks the significant milestone in the program, which has seen all the airframes delivered on time and on budget. More than 1,000 jobs have been sustained throughout MCSP in Havant, Yeovil and Culdrose, where the helicopters are based.

Bob Kramer, vice-president of Lockheed Martin U.K. – Integrated Systems, said: “Merlin continues to be a world beating maritime helicopter that is an asset critical to U.K. defence and that will be an integral part of the future aircraft carrier capability. The success of this program has been a result of excellent teamwork among industry and our government partners that has enabled us to consistently deliver on cost and schedule.”

The Merlin Mk2s have new radars, sonar systems, infra-red cameras as well as large flat, panel displays, giving pilots greater situational awareness. Since being in operation with the Royal Navy, the Merlin Mk2s have been pivotal in the rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean and on operations in Sierra Leone.

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