A Sea King Mark 7 Airbourne Surveillance And Control (SKASAC) helicopter from 854 Naval Air Squadron takes off from the deck of a Type 45 destroyer for the first time.

Able to provide surveillance and early airborne warning, the Sea King Mark 7 can conduct maritime security operations while deployed on a maritime unit in the Arabian Gulf. It was in company with Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond, which is currently in the region.

The SKASACs are presently exercising with Royal Navy ships in the area. For the last few years units from the squadron have been deployed to Afghanistan, where their performance in providing airborne support to units on Op HERRICK has been of critical importance. Using the techniques honed from these deployments they are bolstering surveillance at sea by demonstrating their ability to detect even small contacts at range and report them to friendly units.

The exercises were carried out while Diamond was conducting maritime security operations in the Gulf Region. It was also a good experience for the aviation team in the ship to handle the requirements of a different class of aircraft. This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimages.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45154621.jpg

Photographer: LA(Phot) Gary Weatherston Image 45154621.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk

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