Aviation_News_2017-03

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 13

Crowsnest for RN Merlins

The British Government has approved a

£269m deal to purchase the Crowsnest

helicopter-borne surveillance system to

protect Royal Navy ships, including the new

Queen Elizabeth-Class aircraft carriers.

Crowsnest will be fitted to Merlin HM

helicopters and will act as “the eyes and

ears” for RN ships, providing long-range

air, maritime and land detection and

tracking capability.

Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor,

will integrate the “selected Thales solution”

onto the Merlin HM2 helicopter fleet,

supported by Leonardo Helicopters which

will modify the fleet to fit Crowsnest. The

deal, announced on January 16, is said to

sustain more than 200 UK jobs in Crawley,

Havant and Yeovil.

Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett

Baldwin MP commented: “Crowsnest will

provide a vital intelligence, surveillance

and tracking system for our new Queen

Elizabeth-Class aircraft carriers, capable of

detecting any potential threats at sea, [and]

will help keep our armed forces safe as they

deploy in every ocean around the world for

decades to come.”

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-188B

Hornet 188933 has taken on special high-

visibility tail art.

Technicians from the 433 Tactical Fighter

Squadron have painted the unit’s motto, ‘QUI

S’Y FROTTE S’Y PIQUE’ (who opposes

it gets hurt), atop the fins while the main

tail area is adorned with a cartoon of the

squadron’s mascot, a porcupine swordsman

brandishing a foil.

The porcupine was chosen in tribute to

the district of Porcupine, Ontario, where

the city of Timmins – which sponsored the

squadron in World War Two – is located.

The Hornet’s tails have also been

inscribed with the squadron’s battle

honours as well as artwork depicting the

Avro Lancaster, Handley Page Halifax

and Canadair CF-100 and CF-5 aircraft

previously flown by the unit. The 433

Squadron heraldic badge appears on the

lower left fuselage along with the inscription

‘Ville de Timmins, Ontario’. Andrew H Cline

Special Scheme Canadian Hornet

CF-188B s/n 188933 during a flypast on November 26 at John C Munro International Airport,

Hamilton, to open the Vanier Cup football championship. Andrew H Cline

This AW101, destined for the Indonesian Air Force, departs the Leonardo helicopter factory

at Yeovil, Somerset, on January 19. It was marked as ZR343 and routed directly to London

Stansted Airport for onward delivery to Indonesia, where it’s said to be destined for a VIP role

and thought to be the only example on order for the Indonesian Air Force. Liam Daniels

Indonesian AW

Italian Navy

Receives First

MH-90A

Deliveries of the MH-90A maritime tactical

transport helicopter have started to the

Marina Militare (Italian Navy). The first

example arrived at the Maristaeli Luni base

in Sarzana for the 5° Gruppo Elicotteri on

January 23.

The first of ten assigned to the navy,

it was delivered by Leonardo’s Helicopter

Division in the presence of the Chief of

Naval Staff, Admiral Valter Girardelli, and the

Commander of Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral

Giorgio Gomma.

Intended to support the San Marco

Marine Brigade and Italian Special Forces,

the MH-90A combines the features of the

Italian Navy’s SH-90A with those of the land-

based version, including a rear ramp and

mission equipment package.

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