Ïðî âåðòîëåò Merlin ñ Crowsnest íàïèñàíî â World of Warships Magazine, 2020, ¹3
The Royal Navy’s airborne early warning (AEW)system, which is fitted to the fleet’s Merlin helicopters is facing delays. The state-of-the-art system, known as Crowsnest is designed to be the ‘eyes and ears’ warning of any incoming fighter threats with the concept being that Merlin helicopters fly out and ahead of the new carriers and monitor the skies for threats.
Lockheed Martin, which is leading the project with defence irm Thales, insisted the hi-tech kit would be ready in time for super carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first mission next year. The alleged delays surfaced after a test of the radar just before Christmas. Former First Sea Lord Alan West said: “One of the lessons learned in the Falklands was that we need airborne early warning systems.” In 2017, the National Audit Office rated the project as ‘amber’, meaning successful delivery ‘appeared feasible’ but that ‘signiicant issues’ already existed. A Lockheed spokesman said: “We are conident that the Merlin Mk2 helicopter with Crowsnest will be available to support the first operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth.”