Westland Lynx
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| Lynx/Super Lynx | |
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 Lynx HAS3 of the Black Cats (Royal Navy) display team |
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| Type | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Westland/AgustaWestland |
| Maiden flight | 21 March 1971 |
| Introduced | 1978 |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Army Air Corps (British Army) Royal Navy French Navy German Navy |
| Produced | 1978-date |
| Variants | Westland 30 |
The Westland Lynx is a British helicopter designed by Westland and built at Westland's factory in Yeovil, first flying on 21 March 1971 as the Westland WG.13. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went into operational usage in 1977 and were later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations. The helicopter is now produced and marketed by AgustaWestland.
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[edit] Development
As part of the Anglo-French helicopter agreement signed in February 1967 the French company Aérospatiale were given a workshare in the manufacturing programme.
When piloted by Roy Moxam in 1972, it broke the world record over 15 and 25 km by flying at 321.74 km/h. It also set a new 100 km closed circuit record shortly afterwards, flying at 318.504 km/h. In 1986, a Lynx specially modified with BERP (British Experimental Rotor Programme) rotor blades, registered G-LYNX and piloted by John Egginton set an absolute speed record for helicopters over a 15 and 25 km course by reaching 400.87 km/h (249.09 mph)[1]. The Lynx is an agile helicopter, capable of performing loops and rolls.
The British Army ordered 100 Lynx AH (Army Helicopter) Mk.1 for various roles, including tactical transport, armed escort, anti-tank warfare (with eight TOW missiles), reconnaissance and evacuation. The Army has fitted a Marconi Elliot AFCS system onto the Lynx for automatic stabilisation on three axis.
[edit] Future Lynx
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This section contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future aircraft.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the aircraft.
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On 22 June 2006 the UK Ministry of Defence awarded Westland a £1 billion contract for 70 Future Lynx helicopters under a strategic partnering agreement with AgustaWestland[1]. The programme will provide the British Army and Royal Navy with 40 and 30 aircraft respectively, with an option for a further 10, split equally between Army and Navy.
Future Lynx is described as a new aircraft that builds on the dynamic and vehicle systems of the existing design, incorporating advanced technology and providing increased capability. The fatigue problems with the existing airframe and rotor system are to be corrected. Future Lynx will utilise some systems developed for the Super Lynx 300 and will feature a redesigned nose and rear fuselage to give greater space and easier access to avionic units. Future Lynx will be powered by two LHTEC CTS800 engines, offering increased power and endurance over existing Lynx powerplants, while retaining economy.
The first Future Lynx is programmed to make its maiden flight in 2009, with initial deliveries in 2011. The Army variant will enter operational service in 2014, with the RN variant following in 2015.
[edit] Operational history
In British service it equips the Army Air Corps (AAC) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). For the AAC the Lynx AH.7 and AH.9 operate as attack/utility helicopters. The Lynx AH.7 is in service with the FAA where it operates as an attack/utility helicopter in support of the Royal Marines, and the Lynx HMA.8 as anti-submarine warfare helicopter equipped with the Sea Skua anti-ship missile for Royal Navy warships.
The Lynx's most prominent combat role was operating the Sea Skua to devastating effect against the Iraqi Navy during the 1991 Gulf War. The Lynx also saw service with British Army forces during that conflict. It had already made its first combat operations in British service during the Falklands War in the 80s. None were shot down, but three were lost aboard vessels hit by Argentine bombs or Exocets, one on the MV Atlantic Conveyor and one each on board HMS Coventry and HMS Ardent.
It was used during Operation Barras to rescue 11 British soldiers in Sierra Leone on 10 September 2000.
The most recent wartime mission for the Lynx was during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It has also seen extensive service during peacekeeping operations and exercises, and it is standard equipment for most Royal Navy surface combatants when they deploy.
A British Lynx from 847 Naval Air Squadron was shot down over Basra, Iraq on May 6, 2006. The helicopter is believed to have been downed by either a missile or more likely, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). The Lynx crashed into a house and burst into flames, killing all five on board, including the Commanding Officer of 847 NAS. A riot followed with locals celebrating the downing of the helicopter and surrounding the crash site as British troops rushed to the scene. This was the first British helicopter and only the second British aircraft downed (the first was an RAF Hercules) due to enemy fire in the war.
[edit] Design
The Lynx is a utility type helicopter design with a side by side cockpit for pilot and co-pilot. It features a large sliding and crew door on each side. Its twin turboshaft engines power a four-blade semi rigid main rotor system.[3][4][5]
[edit] Variants
[edit] Land-based variants
- Westland WG.13
- Prototype, first flight 21 March 1971.
- AH.1
- Initial production version for the British Army Air Corps, with over 100 examples built. Used for a variety of tasks, including tactical transport, armed escort, anti-tank warfare (equipped with eight TOW missiles), reconnaissance and casualty evacuation.
- AH.1GT
- Interim conversion of the AH.1 to partial AH.7 standard for the Army Air Corps.
- AH.5
- Upgraded version for the Army Air Corps. Only five were built, of which four were later upgraded to AH.7 standard and one was retained for trials work as an AH.5X.
- AH.6
- Proposed version for the Royal Marines, not built.
- AH.7
- Upgraded version for the Army Air Corps. A small number also used by the Fleet Air Arm in support of the Royal Marines.
- Lynx AH.9 ("Battlefield Lynx")
- British Army version of the Super Lynx (AH.7 with wheeled undercarriage).
[edit] Naval variants
- Lynx HAS.2 / HAS.2(FN)
- Initial production version for the Royal Navy and the French Aéronavale. When it is used in the anti-submarine role, it is equipped with two torpedoes or depth charges and a dipping sonar. For anti-surface warfare, it is equipped with either four Sea Skua missiles (Royal Navy) or four AS.12 missiles (Aéronavale). Version for the Aéronavale was named HAS.2(FN).
- Lynx HAS.3
- Improved version of HAS.2.
- HAS.3(S)
- Improved version of the HAS.3 for the Royal Navy fitted with secure radio systems.
- HAS.3(GM(S))
- Nineteen modified helicopters for the Royal Navy, for service in the Persian Gulf (GM denotes Gulf Modification).
- HAS.3(ICE(S))
- Two helicopters for the Royal Navy for use in the Antarctic.
- HAS.4(FN)
- Upgraded version for the Aéronavale.
- HMA.8 ("Super Lynx")
- Upgraded maritime attack version.
- HMA.8(DSP)
- Digital Signal Processor.
- HMA.8(DAS)
- Defensive Aids Subsystem. (Incorporates DSP).
- HMA.8(SATURN)
- Second-generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO.
- HMA.8(SIFF)
- Successor to IFF.
- HMA.8(CMP)
- Combined Mods Programme
Eventually all HMA.8 aircraft will be at the DAS, SATURN & CMP standard and will most likely be known as HMA.8(SATURN). The first of which will be in service in early 2008.
[edit] Export variants
- Lynx Mk.21
- Export version of the HAS.2 for the Brazilian Navy. Brazilian navy designation "SAH-11".
- Super Lynx Mk.21A
- Export version of the Super Lynx for the Brazilian navy.
- Lynx Mk.22
- Unbuilt export version for the Egyptian Navy.
- Lynx Mk.23
- Export version of the HAS.2 for the Argentine Navy. Later sold to Brazil and Denmark.
- Lynx Mk.24
- Unbuilt export version for the Iraqi army.
- Lynx Mk.25
- Export version of the HAS.2 for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Designated "UH-14A" in Dutch service.
- Lynx Mk.26
- Unbuilt export version for the Iraqi army.
- Lynx Mk.27
- Export version for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Designated "SH-14B" in Dutch service.
- Lynx Mk.28
- Export version of the AH.1 for the Qatar Police.
- Lynx Mk.64
- Export version of the Super Lynx for the South African Air Force.
- Lynx Mk.80
- Export version of the HAS.2 for the Royal Danish Navy.
- Lynx Mk.81
- Export version for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Designated "SH-14C" in Dutch service.
- Lynx SH-14D
- Upgraded helicopters for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
- Lynx Mk.82
- Unbuilt export version for the Egyptian army.
- Lynx Mk.83
- Unbuilt export version for the Saudi Arabian army.
- Lynx Mk 84
- Unbuilt export version for the Qatar army.
- Lynx Mk 85
- Unbuilt export version for the United Arab Emirates army.
- Lynx Mk.86
- Export version of the HAS.2 for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
- Lynx Mk.87
- Embargoed export version of the Argentine navy.
- Lynx Mk.88
- Export version for the German Navy.
- Super Lynx Mk.88A
- Upgraded version of the Lynx Mk.88 for the German Navy.
- Lynx Mk.89
- Export version for the Nigerian navy.
- Lynx Mk.90
- Export version for the Royal Danish Navy.
- Lynx Mk.90A
- Upgraded version of the Lynx Mk.80 for the Royal Danish Navy (retro-fitted with BERP-rotors)
- Super Lynx Mk.90B
- Upgraded versions of the Mk.90A and Lynx Mk.90 for the Royal Danish Navy.
- Lynx Mk.95
- Export version of the HAS.8 for the Portuguese Navy.
- Lynx Mk.99
- Export version of the HAS.8 for the South Korean Navy.
- Super Lynx 300
- Export version of the Super Lynx.
[edit] Projects
- Lynx HT.3
- Proposed training version for the Royal Air Force, not built.
- Battlefield Lynx
- Proposed export version of Lynx AH.9.
- Battlefield Lynx 800
- Proposed export version of Lynx AH.9 with LHTEC T800 engines, the project was abandoned in 1992.
- Lynx ACH
- Proposed experimental Advanced Compound Helicopter.
- Lynx-3
- Technology prototype, build in 1984. Only one built (serial/registration ZE477 / G-17-24)
[edit] Derivatives
- Westland 30
- medium helicopter based on the Lynx, using some dynamic systems with a new, enlarged fuselage for up to 22 passengers.
Notes:
- AH: Army Helicopter
- HAS: Helicopter, Anti-Submarine
- HMA: Helicopter, Maritime Attack
- IFF: Identification Friend or Foe
- (GM): Gulf Modification
- (S): Secure speech radio
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
- Argentine Navy ordered ten Mk23s but only two were delivered before the outbreak of the Falklands War and the ensuing arms embargo imposed by the British. To make up for the undelivered aircraft, the Argentines ordered the Eurocopter Fennec.
- Royal Netherlands Navy received 6 search and rescue and 18 anti-submarine warfare models.
- Royal Norwegian Air Force operates six helicopters on behalf of the Norwegian Coast Guard. 337 Skvadron operates from the Nordkapp Class cutters.
- Pakistan Navy operates Lynx helicopters for anti-ship / anti-submarine / transport duties.
- Portuguese Navy uses Lynx on "Vasco da Gama class frigates".
- South African Air Force operates four Super Lynx 300 Mk64s from the South African Navy's Valour class frigates.[6] [7]
[edit] Law Enforcement Operators
- Qatar State Police
[edit] Specifications (Super Lynx Series 100)
Data from Flight International World Aircraft and Systems Directory (3rd ed.)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 or 3
- Length: 15.24 m (50 ft)
- Rotor diameter: 12.80 m (42 ft)
- Height: 3.67 m (12 ft 0.5 in)
- Disc area: 1,385.4 m (128.71 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 3,291 kg (7,255 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,330 kg (11,750 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Gem turboshafts, 835 kW (1,120 shp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 324 km/h (201 mph)
- Cruise speed: km/h (mph)
- Range: 528 km (328 miles standard tanks)
Armament
- Naval: 2 x torpedoes or 4x Sea Skua missiles or 2 x depth charges.
- Attack: 2 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 70mm rocket pods CRV7, 8 x TOW ATGM[8]
- General: GPMGs
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) - Rotorcraft World Records
- ^ Gazette Website: PDF Navigator. www.gazettes-online.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
- ^ Lynx on Vectorsite.net
- ^ Westland Lynx page on avia.russian.ee
- ^ Rotorhead images on www.b-domke.de/AviationImages
- ^ South African Super Lynx 300 At Paris Air Show article at the official website of the AgustaWestland
- ^ The eagles have landed article at the South African Navy Official Web Site
- ^ army.mod.uk: Lynx AH7 & AH9
[edit] External links
[edit] Technical information
- Super Lynx 300 page on AgustaWestland.com
- Air Vectors: The Westland Scout, Wasp, & Lynx
- Westland Lynx page on avia.russian.ee
- helis.com Section on the Westland Lynx
- Westland Lynx page on militaryfactory.com
- Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) rotorcraft world records page
[edit] Photos and videos
- Westland Lynx Helicopters group on Flickr
- Westland Lynx on myaviation.net
- Westland Lynx on airliners.net
- A video from December 1988 showing the Lynx being put through some extreme manoeuvres
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