UK Marine Corps received the first helicopter of a new type. Production company put Leonardo Navy Britain first retrofitted helicopter Merlin Mk4, transfers “Warspot” with reference to the portal navaltoday.com.
It should be noted, Merlin helicopters that operate in the British Army conducted from the end of the 90s. The development of this machine is based on the multi-purpose helicopter AgustaWestland AW101 led joint Anglo-Italian venture EH Industries Ltd.
Merlin Mk4 model is not fully established “from scratch” helicopter, and is an improved version of the helicopter AW101 Merlin Mk.3 and Mk3A by retrofitting of old military vehicles. At the same tactical and technical data of the Ministry of Defense in Britain helicopter does not, merely indicates, that Merlin MK4 «substantially better suited for operations at sea and will be the main rotor helicopter marines in the next decade".
Merlin Mk4 differs from previous versions of the folding rotor blades and tail boom, that at the request of the British Navy Command, will effectively place the helicopters on the new British aircraft carriers. Also on the new helicopter used fundamentally new avionics system.
Merlin Mk4 is created to replace the standing armed Marine Corps multipurpose helicopters Sea King Mk4. Total re-ordered 25 units.
