Initial order of 12 Merlins for Search and Rescue (6 Mk514), Combat SAR (4 Mk516) and Fishery Protection (2 Mk515) roles, saw the first delivered in Feb 2005, followed by three more to commence conversion to type training. 
In 2010 the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) achieved the milestone of 10,000 flying hours with its AW101 fleet performing fishery protection and search and rescue duties having saved more than 630 lives since introduced in late 2004
Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 2023- | Esq 752 | Lajes (BA4) |
| 2006- | DAM | Porto Santo (AM3) |
| 2005- | Esq 751 | Lajes (BA4) Montijo (BA6) Porto Santo (AM3) |
|
Deployments List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50088 | mk514 | 2003 | 19601 Maiden flight | ||||
| 50094 | mk514 | 19602 19602 First Merlin Landing in Portugal | |||||
| 50104 | mk514 | 19603 19603 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50107 | mk514 | 19604 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50126 | mk514 | 19605 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50128 | mk514 | 19606 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50100 | mk515 | 19607 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50115 | mk515 | 19608 FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50122 | mk516 | 19609 19609 50122/SAR09/516001. FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50140 | mk516 | 19610 50140/SAR10/516002. FAP Esq751 | |||||
| 50152 | mk516 | 19611 19611 FAP, 516003/SAR1 | |||||
| 50158 | mk516 | 2006 | 19612 FAP Esq751 | ||||
