page_title: AgustaWestland AW101
section_title: Royal Canadian Air Force
hierarchical_section_title: AgustaWestland AW101 / Operational history / Royal Canadian Air Force
caption_attribution_description: English: Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant (AugustaWestland EH101) search and rescue helicopter and a Canadian Coast Guard ship in training.
context_page_description: The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter used in both military and civil applications. First flown in 1987, it was developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Agusta in Italy in response to national requirements for a modern naval utility helicopter. Several operators, including the armed forces of Britain, Denmark, and Portugal, use the name Merlin for their AW101 aircraft. It is manufactured at factories in Yeovil, England and Vergiate, Italy; licensed assembly work has also taken place in Japan and the United States.
  Prior to 2007, the aircraft had been marketed under the designation EH101. The original designation was, in fact, EHI 01, from the name given to the Anglo-Italian joint venture – European Helicopter Industries – but a transcription error changed this to EH101 and the designation stuck. In 2000, Westland Helicopters and Agusta merged to form AgustaWestland, leading to the type's current designation.
context_section_description: In 1997, in light of the declining condition of its helicopter fleet, Canada launched the Canadian Search and Rescue Helicopter competition. It was won by the EH101, which was designated CH-149 Cormorant in Canadian service.
  In 2004, the EH101 was entered into a Canadian competition to replace the shipboard Sea King fleet, but the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone was selected.
caption: RCAF CH-149 Cormorant alongside a Canadian Coast Guard cutter
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