Iran conflict 2026: Royal Navy Crowsnest AEW helicopter arrives at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus

A file photo of a Royal Navy Crowsnest helicopter, of the type that has now arrived at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus to provide air-defence radar coverage against hostile UAVs and manned aircraft. (Thales)

A Royal Navy (RN) Crowsnest-configured Lockheed Martin-Leonardo AW101 Merlin HM2 helicopter has arrived on Cyprus to provide airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) for the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) that include Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri.

The single helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) arrived on the eastern Mediterranean island from its home base of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in England on 8 March.

“With its powerful radar and mission system, the ASaC Merlin – known as Crowsnest – provides a defence against aerial threats. With a crew of three, the aircraft can fly up to a mile in height and look ‘over the horizon' – giving advance warning of incoming drones or missiles,” the RN said.

The Crowsnest mission fit comprises a Thales-supplied radar/mission system that can be carried by any of the RN's 30 Merlin HM2 maritime helicopters. As noted by Janes C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air, the Crowsnest ASaC mission package is described as comprising an application of the Thales Cerberus tactical suite and Searchwater ASaC (formerly 2000 AEW) radar, the baseline version of which was installed aboard the previous Sea King ASaC Mk 7 helicopter. Its enhanced performance Searchwater radar (featuring improved data processing and new operating modes) can track small and fast-moving targets in look-down mode (surface and land) and target aircraft in look-up mode.