 Westland has produced a total of 330 Sea Kings ; export customers include the Indian Naval Air Arm , the German Navy , the Royal Australian Navy , and the Royal Norwegian Air Force . The last of the Royal Navy 's Sea Kings in the ASW role was retired in 2003 , being replaced by the AgustaWestland Merlin HM1 . The Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control ( ASaC ) variant is expected to be replaced around the introduction of the two Queen Elizabeth @-@ class aircraft carriers . The UK has also planned to retire the HC4 and search and rescue variants in March 2016 . 
