The UK Royal Air Force’s fleet of Merlin helicopters have completed a four-month training stint in the US, in preparation for deployment in Afghanistan by 2009.

The Merlins will provide support to ground operations and increase UK helicopter lift capacity in Afghanistan by 25%.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The helicopters, capable of carrying up to 20 personnel, will provide additional capability to the Chinook and Lynx helicopters.

Presently, the Merlin fleet is undergoing a £45m upgrade programme including installation of new rotor blades for harsh conditions and improved defensive aids against hostile threats.

Following the training, the fleet will be deployed to Afghanistan from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact