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The United Kingdom\u2019s Ministry of Defence has extended its contract with Leonardo under a \u00a3165 million ($213 million) deal for the maintenance of the Royal Navy\u2019s fleet of 54 Merlin helicopters.<\/p>\n
The Merlin HM Mk2 helicopter is the Royal Navy\u2019s airborne submarine hunter, capable of carrying out search and rescue operations, intercepting drug runners and pirates, and supporting humanitarian relief efforts.<\/p>\n
Armed with Sting-Ray Torpedoes and M3M .50 calibre machine guns, the Mk2 helicopters provide the Royal Navy with anti-submarine and anti-surface support. There are currently two types of Merlin helicopter currently in use in the Royal Navy: the mark-2 (Mk2) and the mark-4 (Mk4).<\/p>\n\n
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the five-year deal supports the government\u2019s Plan for Change by bolstering national security and boosting the economy, and will sustain 200 jobs at Leonardo\u2019s helicopters facility in Yeovil, Somerset, and 800 more across the wider UK supply chain.<\/p>\n
\nWe’ve signed a new \u00a3165m contract with @Leonardo_UK<\/a> to service the @RoyalNavy<\/a>‘s fleet of Merlin helicopters, supporting 1,000 high-paying jobs and the wider UK economy.<\/p>\n
This investment boosts national security and utilises defence as an engine for economic growth. \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 pic.twitter.com\/hJHd1jZoIC<\/a><\/p>\n