Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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Permali Gloucester contracted to protect Commando Merlin MK4 helicopters

Permali Gloucester Limited say it has been contracted by Leonardo Helicopters to supply a comprehensive ballistic protection solution for the Royal Navy’s new Commando Merlin Mk4 helicopters.
The requirement, valued at over £2 million, will create and sustain skilled composite manufacturing jobs at Permali’s factory in Gloucester, U.K.
The Commando Merlin is an advanced battlefield helicopter designed for amphibious operations, and will be tasked with delivering troops and supplies into conflict zones as well as supporting humanitarian operations.
“Permali’s ballistic solution will protect the crew and passengers against small arms fire.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/permali ... 2Z152jfUzo
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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FROM: Royal Navy Photographers

Ever wondered what happens if a pilot from one of our new Aircraft Carriers goes down behind enemy lines? Check out this video by Leading Photographer Dan Shepherd.

See - https://www.facebook.com/royalnavyphoto ... 431178411/
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose

Where better for the aviators of the future to train, but on the deck of the aircraft carrier that they are learning how to protect?!

Today a team from 824 Naval Air Squadron joined HMS Queen Elizabeth as she sailed from Portsmouth. This is the final part of the training for our student pilots, observers and aircrewmen. They will use all the skills that they have learnt so far, but at sea for the first time.

During the time onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, the students will complete deck landing serials as well as the vital secondary roles that helicopters perform on board Royal Navy ships, such as Vertrep (Vertical Replenishment – the transfer of stores to and from the ship) and HIFR ( Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling).

They will also complete simulated war fighting exercises with surface and sub-surface threats to both protect the strike group and project UK power as directed by Command.

(Images: Leading Photographer Belinda Alker)

More images at: https://www.facebook.com/rnasculdrose/p ... ater&ifg=1
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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MERLIN CREWS EARN THEIR SPURS ON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH
28 January 2020
The front-line Fleet Air Arm helicopter pilots, weapons experts and engineers of tomorrow are spending a month aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea to get used to living, working and flying at sea.

The trainees from 824 Naval Air Squadron normally earn their ‘sea legs’ on aviation training ship RFA Argus – very useful, but 40 years old, and with a rather cluttered flight deck which can only accommodate three helicopters simultaneously.

But with the 65,000-tonne new carrier available – she’s conducting her first training in home waters with F-35 Lightning jets embarked off the eastern seaboard of the UK – the Merlin Mk2 fliers from Culdrose are exploiting the Portsmouth-based warship, her cavernous hangar and four-and-a-half-acre flight deck.

The successful pilots, observers (who are the Merlin’s weapons/sub-hunting specialists and navigators) and aircrewmen (sub-hunting specialists/winch operators) will earn their coveted Wings and go on to operate front-line Merlins from either 814 Squadron (performing general sub-hunting/maritime security duties and supplying frigates with helicopters) or 820 Squadron (permanently assigned to the carriers)
Our students are trained to hunt submarines in the Merlin Mk2, and the culmination of this training is to do this by day and night from a ship.

Commander Martin Russell, 824 Squadron’s Commanding Officer
Either way, they’ll end up safeguarding Queen Elizabeth or her younger sister HMS Prince of Wales: a Type 23 – or in the future Type 26 – frigate will be assigned to the carrier task group

Students will use all the skills that they have learned so far during their intensive course – giving them real conditions to train in following the many hours of instructions they have already gone through in hi-tech simulators back in Cornwall.

During their time aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, the fliers will complete deck landings/take offs and perfect similarly vital skills essential to operating a state-of-the-art helicopter at sea: ferrying supplies in giant sacks slung beneath the Merlin and refuelling while hovering.

They will take part in simulated attacks posed by surface and underwater threats and learn the art of working safely on a busy flight deck simultaneously with fast jets.

And trainee air engineers and technicians also have their own baptism of fire, learning how to look after a state-of-the-art aircraft in a hangar onboard a pitching, rolling ship.

“Our students are trained to hunt submarines in the Merlin Mk2, and the culmination of this training is to do this by day and night from a ship,” explained Commander Martin Russell, 824 Squadron’s Commanding Officer.

“To conduct that training in HMS Queen Elizabeth is both an excellent opportunity and an honour. The ship's company of the future flagship have been very welcoming – and we have already achieved a good amount of flying."

The Merlins have had the flight deck all to themselves for the past four days; the F-35s from RAF 207 Squadron – flown and maintained by both RN and air force personnel – are due to fly aboard the carrier today from their home at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

Source, including photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... urs--on-qe
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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HMS Queen Elizabeth - On Twitter

Another key milestone achieved on our journey to CSG21 as jets fly to a 🇬🇧 carrier in 🇬🇧 waters for the first time in a decade.

This 207Sqn training comes ahead of exercises with our operational squadron 617Sqn later this year.

Photos at - https://twitter.com/HMSQNLZ/status/1222 ... rK-CWyvzak

See also - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... hiYscsaTK4
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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Some more photos from - Savetheroyalnavy.org

Today F-35s from 207 Squadron (operational conversion unit) based at RAF Marham landed on board HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea off the east coast of the UK.
Trainee Merlin pilots, air engineers and weapon handlers with 824 Naval Air Squadron are already on board. (Training is usually done on RFA Argus but the has been opportunity taken to use available carrier)
Go to: https://www.facebook.com/savetheroyalna ... =3&theater
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVu4e_SIvlQ
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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CROWSNEST MERLIN

Seen on test flight from Yeovil with additional retractable radar dome.
4 such Merlins are expected to be available for deployment by 849 NAS by early summer next year in time for Q.E.'s first operational CSG deployment.
Photo by Chris Gilligan.
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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HELICOPTER UNLEASHES NEW MISSILE TO PROTECT CARRIERS
24 May 2020
Royal Navy helicopter crews have proved their ability to protect the UK’s aircraft carriers with a new missile system.

As sailors and marines support the current national fight against COVID-19, the Yeovilton-based Wildcat Maritime Force, which includes 815 Naval Air Squadron, is focused on ensuring the UK is prepared for future global threats.

Blasting from a Wildcat helicopter, the new Martlet missile was this week tested on a range off the coast of Wales.

In 0.3 seconds, the missile detached from the Wildcat HMA Mk2 helicopter, accelerating to one and a half times the speed of sound.

The trials mark an important milestone in the testing of the new system which will arm the Wildcat helicopters that deploy as part of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden operational deployment next year.

Commander Matt Boulind Royal Navy, the Wildcat Maritime Force Commander, said: “This test firing shows the Wildcat helicopter will be ready to help defend our Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and their strike groups for years to come.

Continues with photos at:
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ile-firing
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Re: Queen Elizabeth Class - Airwings/Airgroups Except F35B

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The strike carrier’s eye in the sky – update on the Crowsnest project

As the clock runs down to the first operational carrier strike group deployment, Lockheed Martin, Thales and Leonardo are working to complete and flight-test the Crowsnest system that will provide airborne early warning capability. Here we take a look at the progress on the project.

Despite organic radar surveillance for the fleet being critical, the start of the Crowsnest project was postponed by the MoD for two years until 2016. This kind of short-term cost-saving measure is typical of the way MoD sometimes has to ‘push projects to the right’ in order to balance in-year budgets. This financial management practice is in dire need of reform, often resulting in additional costs and, in the case of Crowsnest, a mismatch between its delivery and the timeline for the carrier’s first operational deployment.

Progress was initially slow but in 2018, the MoD agreed an initial operating capability (IOC) date of March 2020 with the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin. About 90 people initially employed by Thales at their Crawley facility were responsible for the most challenging aspect of the project. Thales are providing both of the critical components – the updated inverse synthetic aperture Searchwater radar and Cerberus Mission System.

Continues at:
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/the-st ... 9mON4-yj8A
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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