The Ministry of Defence has released a pre-procurement notice on Contracts Finder, dated 25th January 2024, detailing plans for the Royal Navy’s Merlin HM Mk2 aircraft.
The focus is on sourcing radar solutions for the Merlin HM Mk2, aimed at enhancing the aircraft’s capability for helicopter-based surface search, primarily for general maritime surveillance.
The radar system is expected to facilitate the detection and tracking of small maritime targets, improve situational awareness, and contribute to collision avoidance measures.
“It is anticipated the life of the Royal Navy Merlin HM Mk2 aircraft will be extended until at least 2040 under a prime contract led by Lockheed Martin UK Limited. Lockheed Martin is seeking Expressions of Interest from organisations wishing to be considered for qualification for the competitive procurement process for Radar solutions for the Royal Navy Merlin HM Mk2.
The radar is to provide helicopter-based surface search for general maritime surveillance including small target detection/tracking, situational awareness and contribution to collision avoidance. Additional capabilities including air detection and over-land modes should be identified. Expressions of Interest should be limited to two pages, in English, containing the full contact details for the organisation in question with a single point of contact for any communications.
Respondents to this notice may be required to demonstrate proven experience in similar contracts, details of financial status, core business and future development plans. Lockheed Martin reserves the right to restrict the number of bidders or to postpone or cancel the competitive process.”
The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 18th February 2024, at 23:59. Lockheed Martin retains the authority to restrict the number of bidders and holds the option to postpone or cancel the competitive process at its discretion.
Still the best ASW helicopter in the world, we should definitely keep these until 2040 when drones are ready to replace them.
I’ve read life extension of Merlin is certain.
Whenever I read these notices for ‘expression of interest’ it always rightly or wrongly makes it sound like a local authority putting out notices for local companies interested in something like providing hospitality services in the town hall.
What radar do they use at the moment? It it Blue Kestrel or have they already been upgraded? Given the significant radar expertise in this country, i hope Lockheed, the prime contractor, is not allowed to buy LM radars from the US.
It depends on what the radar is doing.
If it is just for something simple then MOTS is the way to go. Do we want/need a bespoke solution that costs fortunes to periodically upgrade?
There are thing like Typhoon Radar2 and SAMPSON+ that should be our areas of expertise.
Obvs is there is anything that is pretty much off the shelf in the UK then it should be considered.
Good news and much needed clearly.
“UMEX 2024 — At one booth a large, sleek unmanned helicopter sits with folded rotors, as if ready to pounce. At another, different torpedoes are stacked up in the shadow of models aerial drones. More drones, painted in gray camouflage pattern, are lit from underneath yards away.
These are just some of the defense platforms on display by Chinese firms at the Unmanned Systems conference (UMEX) in Abu Dhabi this week, where Chinese companies account for the second largest space by nation, ahead of the US and behind only the host country.
“This is the largest edition since UMEX was launched in 2016, with 11 countries participating for the first time,” said Saeed Al Mansoori, defense exhibitions advisor at ADNEC Group, at the first day of the show conference. “The largest pavilion is the Emirati pavilion, the Chinese pavilion is the second and the American pavilion is the third.”
China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), for instance, displayed a large unmanned helicopter model of AR-2000 at its stand, as well as models of its AR-36 UAV, Wing Loong 10B and Wing Loong- X UAVs, and CS- 300 T target drones among others. CATIC also sealed a deal on the first day of the show for AED23 million ($6.26 million) for counter-drone platforms.”
breakingdefense.com/2024/01/outdoing-us-china-makes-a-splash-at-emirati-unmanned-defense-tech-show/?utm_campaign=BD Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=291622735&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9QqN1A4pe6VzpVBkTuEHLIzxg7DhfPLm11XrptKqlTOmxXKKYzbeHz3hnfYhYLVpTFjmYKA02PYleEQAy3w1dKlRPhqA&utm_content=291622735&utm_source=hs_email
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Didn’t recently spent billions turning the MK1 into a MK2, now apparently it it needs a new radar??
It just shows why high end ‘air’ has to be procured and developed internationally, because the near constant counter obsolescence upgrades needed these days, at huge ongoing expense, make them unaffordable to a single nation.
Indeed.
Had the Nimrod MR4A survived, we would now be staring down the barrel of a counter obsolescence update on 9 airframes that would have cost the UK tax payer billions more.
I can’t help getting the feeling re the Merlin, someone is taking the piss quite frankly….
They have been hugely expensive assets to operate and upgrade, considering the relatively small number procured and 20 odd years of service.
Have we had any updates on our medium lift helicopters as yet, I thought a decision was imminent.
Why is the Merlin unable to use the Sea Venom ASM? It you’re doing surface search you need the ebility to prsecute. Playing Russian roulette wether you’re escort has a Wildcat embarked with Sea Venom or not is crazy. Most other navies have helicoptors that can do both ASW & anti ship strike. Why is it OK for the RN to handicap ours?
Most helos come with a list of optional extras. In the case of Lynx and latterly Wildcat its all optional extras. To role change between tasks is not a small or quick evolution.
Same goes for Merlin. It would need permanent installation of wiring from the console to the cabin. Black boxes provided for role change instal/removal from ASW to ASuW. Permanent Wiring from the boxes out to the weapon carriers. Them…Integration testing for flight envelope, take-off and landing on deck in various weather, sea state, wind and courses. Firing trials to understand damage to the air frame. Unlike Wildcat and its predecessor Lynx which carried two weapons 2 per side adjacent to each other, the Merlin carries its weapons in tandem on each side one behind the other.
Whilst radar is good to find targets the Wildcat PID is a stealth way of finding targets with zero electronic emissions. It can be cued from the ESM system onto a bearing to find and ID a target from many 10s of miles away. Merlin has an EO pod it can fit but again it’s an optional extra with the need for black boxes additional wiring console changes and it may take up a weapon station.
So use Merlins radar at standoff distances for Surface search and call in a Pony with Venom to tank in at 150+ knts launch return, reload, reattack whilst maintaining the picture with Merlin.
Thanks GB, I see. It seemed like every other nations shipbourne heli’s did both but ours didn’t have that flexability, even other nations using the Merlin. Someone else mentioned “PID” but I don’t know what that stands for.
PID = Passive Identification Device. It’s an advanced TV, IR and laser targetting pod which sits on the nose of the Wildcat. Reputed to be very, very effective at very long ranges.
Thanks Chris, the mystery is solved. So many military acronyms, so few grey cells!
And we’re letting the company that billowed up WCSP handle it ?? Insane
Hopefully Leonardo jump in. There airborne Helo radars are Very good and being used for drones.