Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Gp Capt Nick Tucker-Lowe, Sqn
Ldr Dave Williams, SAC Chris Thompson-
Watts, Brig (AF) Lars Hedemark, all the
personnel of Esk 722 and the Danish
Embassy in London.Below: The Algerian Navy acquired six AW101
Mk610 aircraft for use in the SAR role. They serve
with the 560ème Escadron de Recherche et
Sauvetage based at El Boulaida with detachments
at other locations. Two examples – including c/n
50230/AN03 (temporary UK serial ZR330) – are seen
at Yeovil prior to delivery. Ian Harding
diameter, at 18.6m (61ft), is also slightly
smaller than the Sea King’s 18.9m (62ft).
Should the aircraft be required for any of
its secondary roles, modular rear consoles
can be divided or removed quickly for the
cabin to be reconfigured. According to the
manufacturer, this feature played an important
part in Norway’s final decision to select the
AW101 for its future SAR requirements.
While most SAR missions are likely to involve
small crews, Norway plans for exceptional SAR
events involving large numbers of personnel
and additional specialist equipment.
In the cockpit
Enter the AW101 and you’re immediately
presented with an array of advanced features
including a state-of-the-art glass cockpit,
‘modularised’ rear aircrew consoles (very
evident in the HM2 and Norway’s Mk612 variant)
and the latest in tactical mission systems.
Modern open architecture systems are
a key aspect of the AW101. The internal
equipment available in the HM2, for example,
is a world apart from those in the HM1.
With the latest tactical systems and hardware
available to them, the HM2 rear crew can operate
independently, process information at substantially
greater speeds, disseminate this data quickly and
present it in a more user-friendly fashion via data
links (Link 11, with potential for Link 16 in future).
Central to this is a vastly improved human-
machine interface (HMI), including touchscreen
panel units (TSUs) as well as significantly
improved radar and sonar systems.
The modular nature of the AW101 enables
customers to select specific systems and
internal features. They can also choose a
crew training, maintenance and support
package tailored to their requirements.
At Leonardo there’s a consensus that the
AW101 is now a mature platform. Chief Test
Pilot Andy Strachan explained: “We know
how far we can push the existing design. We
may have gone as far as we can in some
areas, but we’re also aware of other areas
that can support further development.
“After thousands of hours of in-service use, we
have a very good idea of the platform’s strengths
and how these can be adapted to suit emerging
customer’s needs. The current AW101 really has
moved the capabilities of the type forward.”AFM
AW101 orders
To date more than 200 AW101s have been contracted and 170-plus aircraft/kits delivered. The inal assembly line
is located at Yeovil while a similar line at Vergiate, Italy, is no longer active. KHI has also locally assembled EH101s
for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). In addition to the production machines, Westland and Agusta
manufactured nine prototype development aircraft (PP1 to PP9) and a single airframe for civil certiication (CIV01).
Country Variant Number
deliveredPrimary roleAlgeria
Navy Mk610 6 SAR
Air Force Mk642 2 VVIP
Canada Mk511 (CH-149 Cormorant) 15 (Note 1) SAR
Denmark Mk512 SAR/TTT 14 (Note 2) SAR, tactical transport
India Mk641 12 (Note 3) VVIP
Indonesia Mk641 1 VVIP
Italy
Navy Mk110 (SH-101A)
Mk112 (EH-101A)
Mk410 (MH-101A)
Mk413 (MH-101A)10
4
4
4ASW, ASuW
AEW
Utility
Amphibious support
Air Force Mk611 (HH-101A) 12 (+3 options) Personnel recovery and special forces
Japan Mk518 (MCH-101) 11 Airborne mine countermeasures
CH-101 3 Antarctic support
Tokyo Metropolitan
PoliceMk510 1 Law enforcement/SARNigeria Mk641 2 VVIP
Norway Mk612 16 (+6 options) SAR
Portugal Mk514
Mk515
Mk5166
2
4SAR
Fisheries patrol
CSAR
Saudi Arabia Mk640 2 VVIP
Turkmenistan Mk643 2 VVIP
United Kingdom
Royal Navy Mk111 (Merlin HM1/HM2) 44 (Note 4) ASW, ASuW, AEW
Royal Air Force Mk411/512 (Merlin HC3/3A) 28 (Note 5) Utility, tactical transport
US Marine Corps Mk519 (VH-71A) 9 (Note 6) VVIP
Notes: 1. In 2011 the Department of National Defence acquired nine VH-71As involved in the test and pre-
production phase of the cancelled VXX programme for use as spares sources for the CH-149 leet. An unspeciied
number will now be converted for use in the SAR role. 2. From the 14 original deliveries, four SAR and two
TTH versions were sold to the RAF in mid-2007 and were subsequently replaced with new helicopters. 3. India
terminated its order for 12 aircraft in January 2014 following allegations of corruption. Three aircraft were delivered
to the Indian Air Force in December 2012 while the remaining nine were retained in the UK. 4. Thirty Royal Navy
HM1s were upgraded to HM2 standard under the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP). The irst was
redelivered in January 2013 and the last in mid-2015. All 30 are being upgraded to accept the ‘role it’ Crowsnest
airborne surveillance and control capability. 5. Twenty-ive former Royal Air Force HC3/3As have transferred to
the Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force and are being upgraded to HC4 standard under the Merlin Life
Sustainment Programme (MLSP), with deliveries scheduled to be completed in 2020. 6. Nine VH-71As were
produced as kits but never delivered to the USMC. They were subsequently acquired by Canada (see Note 1).http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #369 DECEMBER 2018 // 85