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| EH Industries EH 101 |
Militarymedia.net | The EH 101 has its roots in the British project to replace the Sea Kings of Westland. The design was later revised to meet the Italian navy as well as the requirements of the Royal Navy. Westland and Agusta founded European Helicopter Industries Ltd, which received official approval in 1984 for nine prototypes and subsequent development of what is now the EH 101. The first prototype made its maiden flight in 1987. It is currently marketed as the AgustaWestland AW101.
In addition to its primary anti-submarine warfare role, the EH 101 is also considered for utility and transport missions. Some roles can be performed using the same basic fuselage as a naval helicopter but, alternatively, the EH 101 can be equipped with a modified rear fuselage incorporating a ventral ramp. Systems and equipment vary by role and customer.
An early Royal Navy variant was the Merlin HM.Mk 1 equipped with a Blue Kestrel 360° search radar. The first of 44 orders was delivered in 1998. The Italian Navy EH 101 (16 orders plus eight options) were powered by GE T700-GE-T6A engines, producing 1714 shp (1 278 kW) each.
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| EH Industries EH 101 |
In 2000 the RAF began receiving the first of the first 22 Merlin HC.Mk 3 medium-lift carriers. It can accommodate a maximum of 45 soldiers or up to 6 tons of goods carried internally or as a slung load. The first customer for the utility variant was Canada, which ordered 15 EH 101s for search and rescue duties, along with 35 naval variants. The entire Canadian program was later canceled for budgetary and political reasons, however, in January 1998, the Canadian government placed a new order for 15 examples of the revised version of the AW320 Cormorant SAR for delivery between 2000 and 2003. Further development of the EH 101 could result in an airborne early warning version. of the type required by the Italian navy and the Royal Navy.
In 2000 Agusta and Westland Helicopters merged and formed AgustaWestland. Since 2007 this helicopter has been marketed under the name AgustaWestland AW101.
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| EH Industries EH 101 |
