Commando flyers join the Portuguese air force during Exercise Montijo Merlin
Commando pilots of the Royal Navy have been training with their Portuguese counterparts as part of Exercise Montijo Merlin.
The exercise, which finished late last week, involved members of 846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), their Merlin Mk4 helicopters, and 751 Squadron of the Portuguese Airforce.
It was based out of Montijo Airbase, across the Tagus River from the city of Lisbon.
Commanding Officer of 846 NAS, Commander Richard Bartram said: "Although we fly the same aircraft, there was much we could learn from each other in how we operate.
"Montijo is perfectly placed to conduct numerous training serials that we need to be proficient in.
"From low flying to air gunnery, mountain flying, winching and fast roping to ships at sea, the training estate available to 751 Squadron is impressive with easy access to all of it within an hour's flying time.
"The biggest bonus is the excellent flying weather they have here for most of the year."
The goal of the exercise was to provide the student pilots and the aircrew of 846 Operational Conversion Flight experience in deploying through continental airspace.
Aircrew from 846 flew with 751 during search and rescue training sorties and watched simulated casualty evacuations from large container ships.
The Commando Helicopter Force crew also saw cliff winching off the Portuguese coast and stretcher recoveries at sea, with one aircrew helping to recover a swimmer from the water.
The exercise also allowed the two squadrons to formalise their affiliation, strengthening the relationship between the UK and Portugal.
The highlight of the week was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Commanding Officers of 846 NAS and 751 Squadron.
This set out an agreement for potential collaborations in the future.
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