MERLIN 2 Arrives – The upgrade of the MERLIN Anti-Submarine helicopters moved to a tangible form with the arrival of the first MERLIN 2 on the deck of the Helicopter Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS.    The ILLUSTRIOUS spent twelve days, before joining the COUGAR 12 deployment, hosting the 34 strong Trial Team in exercises in the Western Approaches.   There are thirty (30) airframes that are being upgraded to MERLIN 2 standard at a cost of £ 750 million.    Outwardly there are few visible differences between the MERLIN 1 and MERLIN 2 which hopefully will confuse our enemies as well those interested observers of our own.    The Trials of the MERLIN 2 are being conducted at Boscombe Down (Wiltshire) and the Team on the ILLUSTRIOUS was drawn from the Fleet Air Arm as well as Lockheed Martin and Augusta Westland.