Editing Fleet Air Arm (section)

===Rotary===
Today the largest section of the FAA is the rotary wing section. Pilots designated for rotary wing service train under [[No. 1 Flying Training School RAF|No. 1 Flying Training School]] at [[RAF Shawbury]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/north-shropshire/shawbury/2020/02/29/raf-chief-opens-state-of-the-art-helicopter-training-facilities-in-shawbury/|title=DHFS rebadging as No. 1 FTS – Shropshire Star|date=29 February 2020 }}</ref> The school is a tri-Service organisation consisting of civilian and military instructors (including Naval instructors and a Naval Air Squadron) that take the student from basic flying through to more advanced flying such as instrument flying, navigation, formation and captaincy.

Its aviators fly one of four types of helicopters:

====Commando Merlin====
[[File:Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force Merlin HC3-3A (28450747245).jpg|alt=|left|thumb|A Merlin HC3 of Commando Helicopter Force.]]
The HC4/4A [[AgustaWestland AW101|AW101 Merlin]] (nicknamed "Junglie Merlin") serves as a medium lifter and troop transporter in support of the [[Royal Marines]]. The FAA received the Merlin HC3/HC3A fleet from the RAF, replacing the Commando Sea King in September 2014. These have been marinised and replaced with HC4s/HC4As, under the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP) that was placed on contract in December 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://des.mod.uk/merlin-mk4-delivery/|title=DE&S delivers Merlin Mk4 |date= 24 May 2018 |publisher=Defence Equipment & Support }}</ref>

====Commando Wildcat AH1====

[[File:ZZ383 Agusta Westland AW159 Wildcat AH1 Helicopter Army Air Corps (39630622085).jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Wildcat AH1]] Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH) used by [[847 Naval Air Squadron|847 NAS]].]]

The [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|AW159 Wildcat]]: the BRH (Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter) replaces the [[Westland Lynx]] as the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter of the FAA. Along with the Commando Merlin, these squadrons operate under [[Commando Helicopter Force]], which provides airborne support to [[United Kingdom Commando Force|UK Commando Force]] of the Royal Marines.

====Wildcat HMA2====
[[File:Royal Navy Wildcat Helicopter MOD 45158434.jpg|thumb|A [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Wildcat HMA2]] of [[700 Naval Air Squadron|700(W) NAS]] conducting trials off [[HMS Monmouth (F235)|HMS Monmouth.]]]]
The [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Wildcat HMA2]] became the standard small ship borne helicopter in the FAA, with 28 Wildcats replacing the Lynx HMA8 in 2017. Twenty-eight [[AgustaWestland AW159|AW159 Wildcat HMA2]] helicopters perform a range of roles including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare and airborne surveillance.

====Merlin HM2====
[[File:Royal Navy Merlin Helicopter Launching a Training Torpedo MOD 45157953.jpg|alt=|thumb|A Merlin HM2 aircraft of [[824 Naval Air Squadron|824 NAS.]]]]
The [[AgustaWestland AW101|Merlin]] HM2 ("Grey Merlin") is the FAA's primary anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter, having replaced the Sea King HAS6 in the role. It is presently deployed with various ships of the Royal Navy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/aircraft/helicopters/merlin-mk2|title= Merlin Mk 2 &#124; Royal Navy}}</ref> 

Merlin HM2 also incorporates an [[Airborne early warning and control|airborne early warning and surveillance]] (AEW) variant, known as Crowsnest, which replaced the ASaC7 variant of the [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]]. The first Merlin HM2 test flight with Crowsnest was completed in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/04/first-flight-for-royal-navys-merlin-crowsnest-aew-helicopter/|title=First Flight For Royal Navy's Merlin Crowsnest AEW Helicopter   |last=Vavasseur  |first=Xavier
 |date= 11 April 2019 |website=Naval News }}</ref> However, initial operating capability of the system was significantly delayed. While Crowsnest was deployed with the U.K. carrier strike group in 2021, it experienced operating challenges and finally achieved initial operating capability in July 2023. Full operating capability was expected in 2024/25. While all Merlins in the Royal Navy will be equipped to operate Crowsnest, only ten kits for the system are being acquired. It has been reported that initially five Merlins will be equipped with Crowsnest, three of these being normally assigned to the "high readiness" aircraft carrier.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/crowsnest-airborne-surveillance-and-control-due-to-achieve-initial-operating-capability-in-2023/ | title=Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control due to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2023 &#124; Navy Lookout | date=19 December 2022 }}</ref> Challenges involved in the Crowsnest program have led the Royal Navy to seek a replacement for its helicopter-based AEW platform with a new fixed-wing UAV, under [[Project Vixen]], by 2030.<ref name="VixenAEW">{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=Royal Navy looking at fixed-wing carrier based drone for AEW |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-looking-at-fixed-wing-carrier-based-drone-for-aew/ |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=[[UK Defence Journal]] |date=2 April 2021}}</ref> 

In 2025, nine Merlin HM2s from 820 Squadron were specifically assigned to embark on [[HMS Prince of Wales (R09)|HMS Prince of Wales]] as part of the Royal Navy's [[UK Carrier Strike Group|carrier strike group]] deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. Six of the Merlins deployed in the ASW role and three in the AEW role, with the Crowsnest system having formally reached full operating capability.<ref>{{cite news |title=Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 Crowsnest Airborne Early Warning Helicopters Reach Full Operational Capability |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2025/04/29/royal-navy-merlin-mk2-crowsnest-airborne-early-warning-helicopters-reach-full-operational-capability/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=Overt Defense |last=L |first=Albert |date=29 April 2025}}</ref>