AgustaWestland AW101 Mk 612 (c/n 0265 of Luftforsvaret / the Royal Norwegian Air Force), taking part in a hoisting challenge during the Galileo SAR Meet 2025 at Kbely Air Force Base, Prague, August 2025.
The origin of the AW101 helicopter dates back to the late 1970s, when both the Royal Navy and Marina Militare were searching for a new, modern anti-submarine rotorcraft. As a consequence, Westland and Agusta launched a joint development programme through a newly established company, named EH Industries Ltd.
The new rotorcraft, created as a result of British – Italian cooperation, was for the first time presented to the general public in 1985, during the Paris Air Show.
Originally manufactured under the designation EH101, the helicopter became operational in 1992. Apart from the initial anti-submarine warfare variant, the aircraft evolved into a multi-purpose rotorcraft that was eventually built in more than thirty versions, for military, law enforcement and civilian customers alike.
The EH101 is also known under many other names and designations. In the UK, Denmark and Portugal, the helicopter is called Merlin; Canadian variants are designated CH-148/149, and the Kawasaki-manufactured version is known as MCH-101. In addition, after the merger of Westland and Agusta in 2007, the rotorcraft’s official factory designation was changed to AW101, still used today by its current manufacturer – Leonardo Company.
In October 2011, the Norwegian authorities launched the all-weather search and rescue helicopters (NAWSARH) programme, seeking to replace the ageing Sea King fleet within a decade.
Two years later, the country’s government signed a contract with AgustaWestland worth approximately EUR 1.15 billion. The deal covered delivery of sixteen AW101-612 SAR helicopters, as well as crew training, a flight simulator, post-sale service support and spare parts.
The first Norwegian AW101 was delivered in November 2017. The helicopter was intended for the Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) unit, and its delivery coincided with the opening of the Norwegian AW101 training centre at Sola.
The first AW101 was officially transferred from OT&E to the 330th Squadron on 1st September 2020, thus beginning its SAR duties at Sola Air Base. During the official handover ceremony, attended by Norwegian authorities, the new type of rotorcraft in the country’s service was named SAR Queen.
In August 2025, one of the Norwegian AW101s participated in that year’s edition of the Galileo SAR Meet, held at Kbely Air Force Base in Prague, the Czech Republic, where our current Photo of the Week was taken.
More information about the generational change of the Norwegian search-and-rescue rotorcraft can also be found in our article from December 2023 – The King is dead, long live the Queen!
