Westland Sea King AEW2A, XV714 / WA/685, Royal Navy
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: XV714
Construction Number: WA/685
Code Number: 180 / 80
Military Unit: 849 Squadron
Model Westland Sea King AEW2A
Operator: Royal Navy
Airport: Duxford (QFO / EGSU), UK - England
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 08/1991
Date Submitted: 12/11/2009
Photographed displaying during Helifest '91 at Duxford. The Sea King AEW 2 was born out of the Royal Navy's requirement for an effective Airborne Early Warning system aircraft to operate from the Invincible class carriers. In May 1982, whilst the Falklands conflict was still raging, Westland Helicopters began converting two standard Sea King HAS Mk 2s XV650 and XV704 for the AEW role. The most obvious modification was the large inflatable radome fitted on the the starboard side of the helicopter containing the Thorn-EMI ARI5930/3 Searchwater radar. The radar was an adaptatation of the system carried by the RAF's Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft. On the Sea King, the radome was mounted on a swivel arm which could be rotated through 90° to keep it clear of the ground during take-off and landing. The development programme was greatly expedited by the Falklands conflict and the two development aircraft were flying by July 1982 and were designated Sea King Mk 2 (AEW). The two helicopters formed 'D' Flight of 824 Naval Air Squadron embarked upon HMS Illustrious when she sailed with her battle group en-route to the South Atlantic to relieve Invincible and Hermes. Although the first two machines were not up to the standard of later production examples, they proved the concept and Westlands were given the contract to convert a further six Sea King HAS Mk 2 into AEW Mk 2s and also to bring the two development helicopters up to the full production standard. Eventually, seven Sea Kings were so converted, in addition to the two development helicopters, all being designated Sea King AEW 2As. As the EHI Merlin helicopters entered service a further four Sea King HAS Mk 5s were converted into AEW helicopters. The Searchwater radar had many shortcomings in the AEW role being limited by clutter caused by wave crests and land, therefore in the early 1990s 'Project Cerberus' was initiated to investigate the capabilities required in a replacement system. On the 14th February 1997, Thales was awarded the contract to integrate the Searchwater 2000AEW 'X-band' radar with the Sea King AEW airframe. It is a quantum leap in capability over the original system allowing up to 250 air and surface contacts to be automatically tracked. Communication, data-links and the radar operators work-stations have also been significantly upgraded. Known as the Sea King ASaC Mk 7, this new variant served with distinction during the second Gulf War and with the systems enhanced overland capabilities acted like a mini 'J-STARS' enabling commanders to monitor vehicle movements at the battle front.
Picture ID:1202452