Initial Merlin HC3i Delivered to Royal Navy

摘要

AgustaWestland has delivered the maiden Merlin HC3i to 846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS). The helicopter is the first of seven former RAF HC3s that have been modified to an interim state to support the marines on amphibious operations prior to the arrival of the 'fully marinised' HC4. It was flown the short distance from AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility to 846 NAS' home at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset, on October 14. This interim upgrade includes a manually folded main rotor head, new fast roping point, modified undercarriage for deck operations and new lashing points. Yeovilton expects to welcome the first of 25 HC4s in late 2017 The HC4 features an enhanced avionics suite and automatic folding main rotor head and folding tail. Following on from the HC3i conversions, nine HC3s will be upgraded with life sustainment and ship optimisation modifications to the HC4 standard. It is planned for all nine aircraft to be fully operational by February 29, 2020. In the third and final phase of the transition of these helicopters, the remaining 16 airframes will also go through the same upgrade. This will give a total fleet of 19 HC4s and six HC4As (formerly HC3As), which are intended to be operational by March 2022.