Posted by Think Defence in Air Combat,Logistics on August 12, 2009
Yet another helicopter post from us but it does seem flavour of the month in the press and wider defence community.
Cast your mind back a few years when in what was a rushed decision, the MoD announced the transfer of 6 Danish Merlin helicopters. These were to be transferred to the UK, modified to UK standards and designated the Mk3a. The Danes would get 6 new ones.
The thinking behind the deal was to get the Mk3a’s into service much quicker than would have been the case if we had purchased them fresh from the production line. Whilst arguments have raged this week about aircraft hangars, armour and crewing ratios the Merlin crews are in California on pre deployment training.
There may well have be sound operational reasons why California was chosen instead of Nevada, Cyprus or Morocco (as other helicopter units do) but it doesnt help the MoD’s case. Ham fisted PR whilst in El Centro Naval Air Facility such as reported here in which the pilots talk of working five days a week and praising the nearby lake as a good R&R spot is I am sure greeted with what might be characterised as ‘less than enthusiasm’ by the young Toms in Helmand crying out for Support Helicopters.
Putting all these arguments to one side it might be worth wondering what is the status of the Danish new build Merlins. I wonder how close they are to flying out of Westlands given the conversion is about a year late and likely to be another six months.
Take your bets, we think there is a strong possibility the new Danish Merlins will be in their hangars before the old ones.
Was the decision to obtain and convert the Danish Merlins driven by political expediency or operational common sense
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