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Commando Merlin

A Merlin helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron loaded and fired flares from HMS Prince of Wales, while embarked for Exercise Steadfast Defender. Flares are one element of the Defensive Aid Suite (DAS). The flares make up one portion of the DAS system, they are specifically designed to defeat Infra-Red seeking missiles (MANPADS). The aircraft carrier is taking part in Exercise Steadfast Defender. Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 will be the largest NATO exercise in decades. NATO forces will be exercising across multiple regions and in multiple domains (maritime, land, air, space, and cyber). The vast scale of this exercise will occur over several months and over thousands of kilometres and will involve tens-of-thousands of Allied troops, all showcasing NATO capabilities to deter adversaries and defend allied territory.

Leonardo to Continue Upkeep for UK Navy Merlin Helicopters

Apr 3, 2025

Pictured: A Merlin Mk4 of 845 NAS performs a snow landing using MAOTS BV Vehicles as reference. 845 NAS and CDO MOAT TRAIN WITH RN MEDICS IN ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT. 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and the Commando Mobile Air Operation Team (Cdo MAOT) have conducted training with the Medical Squadron of Commando Logistic Regiment. The objective of the training was to teach the attached Royal Marines, Royal Navy Medical Assistants, Naval Nurses, and Medical Officers of the Forward Surgical Teams (FSTs) and as a group, known as the Commando Forward Surgical Group (CFSG) in Stage 1 Evacuation drills from the Merlin Mk4 and Arctic Casualty Loading Drills in the field. As the CFSG team were dropped off by 845 NAS, Cdo MAOT assisted by the MAOT team of the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS) took over the training by first getting them into a ‘Arctic Huddle’ to protect themselves from the freezing downwash of the merlin as they took back off. The CFSG were then shown how to assess suitable Helicopter Landing Sites in deep snow and frozen areas. Op CLOCKWORK (Formally Exercise CLOCKWORK) has been running at Bardufoss for over 50 years and delivers Environmental Flying Qualifications, Cold Weather Survival, Tent Group Commanders and Snow and Ice driving courses to ensure that the personnel of the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) are trained to operate in the harshest of environments.

Royal Navy to Renovate Merlin Helicopter Fleet Base in Cornwall

Oct 29, 2024

C-130J aircraft and Merlin Mk4 helicopters

UK Super Hercules Conducts First Air-Landed Arming and Refueling With Merlin Choppers

Nov 14, 2022

Royal Marines Commando Merlin helicopter

Royal Marines receive first of 25 Commando Merlin helicopter

May 24, 2018

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