<sod>CHF has now returned to prioritising its main amphibious role in support of [[Royal Navy]]/[[Royal Marines]] operations after focusing on more than a decade of service in land-locked [[Operation Herrick|Afghanistan]] and prior to that in [[Operation Telic|Iraq]]. The upgraded and ship-optimised Merlin HC4 and HC4A aircraft will be painted in Royal Navy grey, unlike the green 'Junglie' Sea Kings they replace. The upgraded HC4 and HC4A standard will ensure the aircraft are fully capable of deploying in an maritime/amphibious role. The differences between the current HC3 and (former Denmark-bound) HC3A will be almost eliminated in the HC4/4A upgrade (known as the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP)). Prior to the upgrade, 7 of the airframes have been upgraded to the 'interim HC3' and are serving with 846 NAS. These aircraft will receive the full upgrade after the remaking aircraft have been upgraded to the HC4 and HC4A. By the end of MLSP, the squadrons will each operate around 10-11 aircraft, with a further 4-5 undergoing deep maintenance, totalling 25.<ref name="UK Government"/><eod>
<sod>CHF has now returned to prioritising its main amphibious role in support of [[Royal Navy]]/[[Royal Marines]] operations after focusing on more than a decade of service in land-locked [[Operation Herrick|Afghanistan]] and prior to that in [[Operation Telic|Iraq]]. The upgraded and ship-optimised Merlin HC4 and HC4A aircraft will be painted in Royal Navy grey, unlike the green 'Junglie' Sea Kings they replace. The upgraded HC4 and HC4A standard will ensure the aircraft are fully capable of deploying in an maritime/amphibious role. The differences between the current HC3 and (former Denmark-bound) HC3A will be almost eliminated in the HC4/4A upgrade (known as the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP)). Prior to the upgrade, 7 of the airframes have been upgraded to the 'interim HC3' and are serving with 846 NAS. These aircraft will receive the full upgrade after the remaining aircraft have been upgraded to the HC4 and HC4A. By the end of MLSP, the squadrons will each operate around 10-11 aircraft, with a further 4-5 undergoing deep maintenance, totalling 25.<ref name="UK Government"/><eod>