With its Merlin helicopter fleet, the British Royal Navy demonstrates its commitment to maintaining a versatile and formidable maritime force.

Several variations of the rotorcraft are currently in service, including the Mk2, Mk4 and the Crowsnest. All fulfill critical roles, ranging from anti-submarine warfare to airborne early warning and amphibious operations.

The Merlin HM Mk2 is the Royal Navy's airborne submarine hunter.

Primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare, it is equipped with advanced sonar systems, Sting Ray torpedoes and M3M .50 caliber machine guns. These enable it to detect and engage underwater threats.

Beyond submarines, the Mk2 also can engage in anti-surface warfare, humanitarian missions and search and rescue operations.

Its deployment on platforms such as Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 45 destroyers and Type 23 frigates underscores its versatility and importance to the Royal Navy's operational readiness.

The Mk2 has a new upgrade to enhance situational awareness: the Crowsnest system, which transforms the Merlin HM Mk2 into an airborne early warning platform.

The system achieved full operational capability in April, marking a significant milestone in the Royal Navy's modernization efforts.

Equipped with a high-powered radar housed in a distinctive domed pod beneath the fuselage, Crowsnest provides long-range air, maritime and land surveillance.

This enables the detection, identification and tracking of potential threats beyond the horizon, offering a critical layer of defense for carrier strike groups.

Amphibious operations

Another newly upgraded member of the Merlin family is the Merlin Mk4, often hailed as the world's most advanced amphibious battlefield helicopter.

Tailored for amphibious operations, the MK4 can transport up to 24 fully equipped troops, providing rapid deployment capabilities for the Royal Marines.

The Mk4 is the result of a series of upgrades to optimize Merlin helicopters for ships and allow them to operate from vessels anywhere in the world.

Upgrades completed in January brought 25 different MK3 helicopters to an MK4 standard.

Key enhancements include a redesigned folding main rotor head and tail, allowing the rotorcraft to operate with ease from naval vessels, including the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers.

The folding rotors enable two helicopters to be accommodated on a single aircraft lift aboard the carrier.

Additionally, the aircraft features an upgraded defensive aids suite equipped with sensors that detect and pinpoint threats from laser-guided weapons.

The Mk4's design facilitates fast-roping and other insertion methods, making it well-suited for special forces operations and humanitarian assistance missions.

The Merlin fleet continues to demonstrate its strategic value. During the Royal Navy's carrier strike group mission to the Indo-Pacific, nine Merlin Mk2 helicopters were deployed, including three equipped with the Crowsnest system.