Menu
The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-weight military transport helicopter developed as a joint venture between Agusta in Italy and Westland Helicopters in the UK. The manufacturer is the Italian defence contractor Leonardo.
In 1977, the Royal Navy needed a new sub-hunting helicopter to replace the Sea King. Westland presented its WG.34 design, which was selected for development in 1978. The Italian Navy also needed a successor to the Sea King and commissioned Agusta to do so, but this led to major changes to the WG.34 concept. This led to talks between the two companies and the joint venture EH Industries was founded in 1979. In 2000, the two companies merged to form AgustaWestland.
The first production Merlin HM Mk.1 aircraft flew at the end of 1996, after which troop trials continued for several years. It was not until October 2001 that the first operational squadron, 814 Squadron, was formed. Since 2006, the British Royal Navy helicopters, now called AW101, have been the first in the world to be equipped with an electromechanical fly-by-wire system developed by BAE Systems.
The AW101 helicopters are produced at the Leonardo plants in Cascina Costa, Italy, and Yeovil, England.
Westland AW101 Merlin Mk.2
