Defence

AgustaWestland awards MoD Merlin Life Sustainment support contract to CAE

Posted 4 June 2015

CAE has been awarded a contract by AgustaWestland to support the UK Ministry of Defence's Merlin Life Sustainment Programme.

Above: A Royal Navy Merlin helicopter.
Crown copyright: Leading Airman (Photographer) Dave Jenkins

The contract was signed in CAE's fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 and included in the value of contracts announced on 8 April, 2015.

AgustaWestland is the prime contractor responsible for the conversion of 25 AW101 Merlin helicopters for maritime operations to support the Royal Navy. Under subcontract to AgustaWestland, CAE will design and manufacture a suite of AW101 Merlin synthetic training equipment to train pilots and rear crew.

"We are pleased to once again partner with AgustaWestland to support the training needs of the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force as they introduce a more capable AW101 helicopter," said Ian Bell, CAE's Vice President and Regional Business Leader, Europe/Middle East/Africa. "CAE has long supported the Royal Navy with world-class training systems and services at Royal Naval Air Stations (RNAS) Culdrose and Yeovilton, and we look forward to continuing to do so for the Merlin helicopter platform."

CAE will deliver two AW101 Merlin Mk.4/4a fixed-base flight training devices (FTDs), one rear-crew trainer (RCT), and one flight navigation procedures trainer (FNPT) in 2017 to RNAS Yeovilton.