Cornish Royal Navy helicopter arrives in Cyprus to help protect UK forces
The Merlin helicopter left RNAS Culdrose over the weekend and landed in Cyprus today.
A Royal Navy helicopter from Cornwall is now in Cyprus to help protect UK forces.
The Merlin helicopter and its crew, based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, flew out over the weekend and landed at RAF Akrotiri this afternoon.
The aircraft carries powerful radar and can spot drones or missiles before they get close. The helicopter can fly up to a mile in height and look ‘over the horizon’ – allowing the crew to give advance warning of incoming drones or missiles.
The commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain James Hall, said: “We activated one of our ASaC aircraft to deploy immediately to provide an additional layer of defence for our forces at Akrotiri. Our aircraft from Merlin Helicopter Force are held at readiness to respond at short notice to any threat to UK interests.
“820 Naval Air Squadron already has experience of providing force protection from similar threats, having deployed ASaC aircraft on active operations in the Red Sea last year during the transits of the carrier strike group led by HMS Prince of Wales during Operation Highmast.
“This will also compliment the defensive measures provided by the Wildcat aircraft and HMS Dragon, when she arrives in the region, providing a layered capability for the protection of UK forces.”