AgustaWestland EH101

Designed as a replacement for the Sea King, the EH-101 (named Merlin in Royal Navy service), is a joint venture between Westland (UK) who developed the original WG34 design on which the EH-101 is based and Agusta (Italy). A new company called E.H.I. was established between the two partners in 1980 to manage the project. The HM1 is an anti-submarine variant intended to replace the Sea King HAS6, and the Lynx HAS3 & HMA8 on suitably equipped frigates. Other versions will replace Sea Kings in transport roles in both the RN and RAF and an airborne-early-warning version is planned. A US101 version was developed in 2003 to compete in the VHX to replace the United States Presidential helo, flown by US Marine squadron HMX-1. EHI officially became AgustaWestland International Limited (AWIL) in 2004, recognising the transfer of control over Westland Helicopters to Agusta Helicopters of Italy

The EH-101 was originally to be known as the EHL-01, but a clerical error in re-typing caused the lower case letter  l  of European Helicopter Ltd to be misread as a one. The rest, as they say, is history.

First flown October 9, 1987. On July 2007, the EH101 was renamed by Agustawestland as the AW101.
Since 2016 marketed by Leonardo.