Leonardo contracts with tlmNexus to trial its DaRT

Above: Anglo-Italian aerospace company Leonardo is to use the tlmNexus DaRT system for the UK MoD Merlin Mk 2 helicopters.
Courtesy tlmNexus

From May 2020, the tlmNexus’ DaRT application will be in trial with the UK’s fleet of Merlin Mark 2 helicopters, further to a contract with multinational aerospace company Leonardo.

Award-winning Brighton-based tlmNexus is a UK tech firm which in 2019 launched the service with the UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), to provide MoD Typhoon multirole fighter jets with the DaRT system.  The new contract with Leonardo is further recognition of the benefits that DaRT offers.

The application is relevant to both defence and civilian operations.

DaRT enables an entire system’s damage and repair to be recorded and tracked in a single location by multiple users. The Leonardo contract permits the application to be used by both the RN aircrew who fly the helicopter and also the civilian and military maintainers who keep it in the air. Using the application in this ‘end-to-end’ manner, the intention is to ensure that all damage and subsequent repairs are recorded in one place, throughout the system’s lifetime; providing crucial information for making decisions today – as well as into the future.

DaRT is configurable to suit the different platform systems and processes used by various operators. Users are able accurately to record damage and repair on pictorial views, and can include a variety of related data.

DaRT is also able to support the progression of the repair process. For Merlin the tlmNexus team have included existing forms used by the helicopter crew and support team, to request technical assistance into the DaRT application, helping to further improve the efficiency of the damage and repair process.

Tony Harris, Commercial Director at tlmNexus said: “We are delighted to reach agreement with Leonardo and that the Merlin is to use the DaRT application. This new contract for use with a medium lift military helicopter shows the versatility of this adapted ‘off the shelf’ software and we look forward to maximising its potential for this very different type of aircraft.”