Merlin changes

[NURSE]

with the retiremant of the Sea King fleet what is the future of the AEW element of the fleet air arm?

I note the plans for the Merlin HMA fleet includes the upgrade of all but 7 or 8 will thease airframes or HC3 airframes be converted to provide an AEW variant?

[vecvechookattack]

.......................No.


But they will be upgraded to ASaC

[Obi Wan Russell]

The Royal Navy orignially bought 44 HM1 Merlins, now down to 42 extant airframes. HM2 upgrade was for 30 airframes with an option on 8 more, the option was not taken up. Currently likely remaining 10-12 airframes could be converted to ASaC standard using radar from SK ASaC7s (13 in service). 12 Merlin ASaC 5 (?) would allow current sqns (849, 854 and 857) to remain at current strengths.

RAF Merlin HC3/3a fleet currently around 28 airframes, all of which will have to be altered for Naval use (folding tails, rotors, and adding tie down points mainly). Merlin is a modular design, so probably not that difficult proposition. Likely to mean designation change to HC4 (means the CHF can continue to use paperwork currently in use, an unexpected saving :ok:).

[I'm Off!]

Great, just what we need. Another RW mounted radar system with all of the height and range compromises that go with it. No matter that the new carriers will be easily big enough for a FW platform.

[vecvechookattack]

No matter that the new carriers will be easily big enough for a FW platform.


That was an option which was investigated....but...you wouldn't believe how much a FW ASaC was going to cost....Hence the RW option.

[Caspian237]

No matter that the new carriers will be easily big enough for a FW platform


You would think that but given that the new ships will probably be a STOVL and not Cat & Trap (or even a hybrid) design then the only real alternative to RW would be a modified Osprey variant. With so few users this niche requirement on Osprey would prove to be very expensive indeed.

In the future perhaps this role could be suited to a UAV that would bring some of the capability that Merlin lacks?

[Yeoman_dai]

Were the US Marines not looking at an ASaC version of the V22 last year? The biggest cost was apparently pressurising the cabin - possibly wait out a little while, let them foot the bill then leap on the outcome? (assuming of course it ever happens and I'm not just making stuff up)

[Caspian237]

I can't really comment on the most recent developments but what I understood was that a MASC capable Osprey would forgo a pressurised cabin because of the expense and difficulties of making this modification. So even the Osprey would not be as capable in this role as a contemporary FW type, but still significantly better than, say, Merlin ASaC.

In the current economic climate I don't think even the vaunted US Marine Corp could expect to get this out of the DoD, particularly when the US Navy has more capable aircraft available now, today. But even if they did I don't imagine there would be a significant number of aircraft produced to really make this affordable from the UK's point of view.