RAF Merlin HC3 Helicopter

A Merlin HC3 of 28 Squadron (AC) RAF pictured at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2006. At time of writing, October 2009, RAF Merlins were preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, later in the year. The helicopters have been fitted with new rotor blades to enable them to operate in the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan. In addition, an improved suite of countermeasures, designed to defend against surface-to-air missiles, are to be fitted to the Merlins.