AgustaWestland’s Through-Life Support for UK Merlin Helis

RAF Merlin HC3(click to view full) Thales’ 2011-2016 IMOS sub-contract. (April 11/11) The United Kingdom has sustained extensive efforts to strike long-term, through-life support contracts for various weapons systems under a “contracting for availability” (rather than for maintenance hours) framework. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) keeps driving the point home with new contracts that encompass more and more of their military. The Royal Air Force currently flies 28 AW101 Merlin HC3 medium helicopters that work with the army, whilst the Royal Navy’s 42 soon-to-be upgraded AW101 Merlin Mk1s are used for both Anti-Submarine warfare and Anti-Surface warfare. This single 25-year contract covers both helicopter types… * The AW101 Merlin’s IMOS Contract [updated] * Contracts & Key Events [updated] * Additional Readings [NEW] Merlin & HMS Sutherland(click to view full) The IMOS contract is a single 25 year contract, with 5 year price breakpoints, to provide through-life support for the MoD EH101 Merlin fleet to its planned out of service dates of 2029 (Royal Navy Mk1) 2030 (RAF Mk3). AgustaWestland will provide an extensive aircraft availability service with a Main Support Base at RNAS Culdrose. Responsibilities will include repair and overhaul, and the management of the complete Merlin supply chain. […]