Availability of the Royal Navy’s fleet of 55 Merlin helicopters is hoped to increase thanks to a new engine support contract award which runs through to 2030.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has placed a £241m, six-year contract with Safran Helicopter Engines UK to deliver continuous support for the helicopter’s RTM322 engine and support British jobs.
“The six-year contract, which starts on 1 April 2024, will deliver an improved, flexible arrangement that optimises availability and grades success against agreed performance outputs, ensuring Merlin’s capability while carrying out its vital roles delivering UK maritime force protection, anti-submarine warfare and amphibious medium lift capability.”
Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said:
“The versatile Merlin has been a workhorse for the Royal Navy for years, protecting and supporting global deployments. This new support contract will increase the mission availability of the Merlin so it can continue hunting submarines, conducting maritime patrols, ferrying troops, and evacuating casualties.”
Keith Bethell, Director – Helicopters at Defence Equipment and Support, said:
“During the years the Merlin has proved to be an outstandingly versatile asset to the armed forces and Safran’s expertise has contributed to that success through meticulous support for the RTM322 engine. This contract secures more than 30 high skilled jobs in the UK, mainly in Fareham, and shows that the engine is being looked after and maintained in the best way possible.”
The MK2 features enhanced radar and sonar systems that make it a potent enemy sub hunter, but it is also used for maritime patrol, troop ferrying, casualty evacuation, search and rescue and other contingency tasks. Since coming into service in 2014, the Merlin MK2s have been deployed from a number of platforms across the Royal Navy, including the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, the Daring Class destroyers, the Duke Class frigates and the RFA vessels.
The other Merlin helicopter currently in service by the Royal Navy is the MK4, which features several modifications for use by the Royal Marines. These include a fast-roping beam that allows the rapid deployment of Special Forces from the main cabin door.
Still not enough of them, but hopefully this will help
55 isn’t a bad number if 2/3 are available in a crisis.
However, my inexpert understanding is that the gearbox was what reduced availability?
A contract securing work for 30 people to provide contractor logistics support for helicopter engines. How does that work out at £40M per annum?
They all live in Surrey. 😂
At the weekend but Knightsbridge during the week
Because a lot of it will include sourcing major parts and spares that are mostly coming from France but they don’t say “also supporting 150” jobs at Safran SA
Because as usual with government contracts it will be via a french or German consultancy Nd each person will be charged at 2000 a day. Not that the workers will get that but the fat cats who are paying ministers and civil servants back pockets from the inflated charges are also on a good screw from the tax payer
Alongside the upgrades getting AEW onto a UAV to ditch the ridiculously drawn out and expensive Crowsnest and let the 30 HM2’s refocus on ASW should be a priority to improve availability.
Sounds like the way2go. Will the NMH be able to replace the Commando Merlins?
It probably could but it’s not slated to. NMH is strictly to replace Puma and smaller fleets in the RAF and AAC and would need navalizing to operate from RN ships.
Merlin is now due OOS 2040 instead of 2029/30 and we only have 30 HM2 Airframes, so then what ? I just do not see any real alternative to a manned ASW Helicopter, can a UAV carry out ASR, tend to a casualty, FlyGuard or spot a man overboard ? We are all screaming that we need more ships for this and that, well it isn’ happening anytime soon. It should have been donw adecade ago and it wasn’t and now all our yards are full and will be for more several years. However even is you take account of… Read more »
Hang on…. 55 ?
must be both the commando junglies and ASW variants? 55 seems a bit light?
Yep that’s the total of both ! Just 30 ASW variants and @6 of those are now AEW Crowsnest.
Cheers Mate!
French company, shame we can’t make our own domestically.
We did, this was a joint venture between RR and what is now Safran. RR sold their share but still provided engine components to Safran. They did the same with the IAE500 engine on Airbus narrrowbodies, sold out their interest but continue to manufacture their components.
This is also the case with the Adour Engine in the Hawk’s – how well has that gone ?.
Build some more, lots more, save the shipyard as well need more ships so start building now. We also need tanks, planes, guns, soldiers, Putin has already said, stated publicly that the war in Ukraine is just a step and his war against the west (us) is going to continue
Merlin uses 3 piddly RTM322s (the engine is about 1m long). I have often wondered why a pair of Honeywell T55-714s weren’t used instead, as used by the Chinook? At just over 2000shp, the RTM produces less than half the power of a T55-714 at 4800 shp. It is around the same length, though admittedly larger in diameter. A pair of T55s would give around 9600 shp whilst 3 x RTMs are just over 6000 shp. This would offer a huge increase in potential payload lift capability, compared to what it can do today. The gearboxes, drivetrain and rotor blades… Read more »