Editing Fleet Air Arm (section)

====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>