Crowsnest’s first flight

Merlin HM2 ZH831 on its first flight at Yeovil after modification to the Crowsnest configuration.
Leonardo Helicopters

The first Leonardo Helicopters Merlin HM2, serial number ZH831, fitted with the Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control system completed its first flight from the company’s manufacturing facility at Yeovil, Somerset on March 28, 2019.

The designated trials aircraft will support trials to assess the flight envelope and handling qualities of the aircraft which will last throughout 2019.

Housed in a distinctive radome fitted on the left side of the Merlin fuselage, the radome also contains the Thales Searchwater radar. Combining the Searchwater radar and the Cerberus mission system into Crowsnest provides long-range air, maritime, and land detection and tracking capability, with fully integrated electronic support measures. Additionally, Crowsnest provides an improved human-machine interface and new radar modes of operation.

Crowsnest is scheduled to achieve initial operating capability in 2020, and will enable the Fleet Air Arm to regain its airborne early warning and control capability missing since the Sea King ASaC7 fleet retired in September 2018.