Portal:Royal Air Force/Selected ship/2
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| AgustaWestland EH101 | |
|---|---|
 A Royal Navy EH101 |
|
| Type | Anti-submarine warfare & medium-lift transport / utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | AgustaWestland |
| Maiden flight | 9 October 1987 |
| Introduced | 2000 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Royal Navy Marina Militare Royal Air Force Portuguese Air Force |
| Produced | 1990s-present |
| Variants | CH-149 Cormorant VH-71 Kestrel |
The AgustaWestland EH101 is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Aircraft in the UK and Agusta in Italy (now merged as AgustaWestland).
The designation "EH101" is a typographical error that stuck: the aircraft was originally designated EHI (Elicottero Helicopter Industries) - 01. The aircraft is manufactured at the AgustaWestland factories in Yeovil, England and Vergiate in Italy.
Development
In 1977, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a requirement for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to replace the Royal Navy's Westland Sea Kings. Westland responded with design WG.34 that was approved for development. Meanwhile, the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) was also seeking a replacement for its (Agusta-built) Sea Kings, leading Agusta to discussions with Westland about the possibility of a joint development. This culminated in the joint venture being finalised in November 1979 and a new company (EH Industries) being formed to manage the project the following year. EH is an abbreviation for Elicottero Helicopter, incorporating the English and Italian words for "helicopter." As the design studies progressed, EHI became aware of a broader market for an aircraft with the same capabilities required by the British and Italian navies, leading to a more generalised design that could be customised. After a lengthy development, the first prototype flew on October 9 1987. EHI no longer exists, having been incorporated into the parent when the two companies merged.
