The United Kingdom has retired the last of its Westland Sea King helicopters, with the final flight of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) ASaC7 airborne early warning (AEW) and surveillance platforms on 26 September.
As the final operator of the type in the UK armed forces, 849 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) performed the last flight from its homebase at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose to HMS Sultan for disposal, marking the end of nearly 50 years of national operations.
Following the final sortie of three of its final four helicopters, 849 NAS will remain an active unit as it awaits the arrival of the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopters to be fitted with the new Lockheed Martin Crowsnest AEW system.
Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options atihsmarkit.com/janes
With Venezuela in a deep, complex, and increasingly urgent crisis since January, aggravated by external tensions with regional neighbours and the United States, the armed forces are likely to play a central role in the country’s future. Jim Dorschner reports
