STEWART PENNEY / HMS ARK ROYAL
Merlins and Sea King 7s fielded for first time as task force flagship Ark Royal leaves UK
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sailed from UK waters last week as the flagship of a UK task force heading for the Gulf region, marking the first deployment of the AgustaWestland Merlin HMA1 maritime helicopter and Westland Sea King AEW7 airborne early-warning platform to a potential war zone.
Navy Task Group 03 (NTG03) was originally planned to be the UK's participation in the Five Power Defence Agreement exercise later this year. Earlier this month, however, the UK government strengthened the flotilla, adding the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, aviation ship RFA Argus and a submarine among other assets. Elements of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines (3CB), have also been embarked.
Commander UK maritime forces Rear Adm David Snelson says that although NTG03 is deploying for the exercise, "the government has added capabilities so that it has a wider range of options should it be needed in Iraq".
Ark Royal has been deployed as a helicopter carrier. Its usual complement of BAE Systems Harrier GR7s and Sea Harrier FA2s have remained in the UK. This follows similar use of sister ship HMS Illustrious, which offloaded its fixed-wing aircraft in favour of additional helicopters during hostilities in Afghanistan.
Although the fighters are not embarked, the ship has necessary spares and support equipment to operate Harriers, should revised plans require the aircraft. Snelson says the air threat in the Gulf is low and air defence can be provided by others, so the RN can concentrate on offensive operations. He says the helicopters can be swapped for fixed-wing assets at any time.
RN sources say that although the Merlin and Sea King AEW7 have previously operated from the Ark Royal, participation in any action in the Gulf will mark the first operational use of either type.
The Merlin has replaced the Sea King HAS6 in the anti-submarine and other maritime roles and the Sea Kings remaining on board Ark Royal have had their mission systems removed and will operate as utility transports, says an RN source. Sea King HC4 utility helicopters and 3CB's Westland Gazelle AH1s and Westland Lynx AH7s have also sailed with the fleet.
The AEW7 is a Thales Sensors upgrade of the RN's AEW Sea Kings. Improvements include a Thales Searchwater radar, with a 30-40% range increase over the version installed on the AEW2a as well as a pulse-Doppler mode, in addition to the earlier system's modes and a Link 16 tactical datalink.
Source: Flight International
