Lynx toutes versions

AW159 Lynx Wildcat Makes Maiden Flight in U.K.

ROME - The AW159 helicopter destined for the British Army and Royal Navy was given its first test flight Nov. 12, manufacturer AgustaWestland said.

The new multirole helicopter, formerly known as the Future Lynx, made its first flight at AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility and will be joined by two additional aircraft in 2010 to complete flight testing. helicopters, which will be known as the Lynx Wildcat, have been ordered for the two services. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2011, to become operational with the Army in 2014 and the Royal Navy in 2015.

The AW159 is expected to undertake battlefield reconnaissance, command and control, transportation of troops and material for the Army, as well as force protection. The Royal Navy version will provide anti-surface warfare capability and force protection and support amphibious operations.
Commonality between the two versions will allow them to switch roles. The AW159 will be capable of carrying machine guns, torpedoes, depth charges and the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon.

First Four Upgraded Lynx Mk.9A Helicopters Delivered to British Army


AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first four upgraded Lynx Mk.9A helicopters for the British Army have been delivered, with the fourth aircraft delivered today, just 12 months after contract award. Three of these four aircraft will be used by the Army Air Corps for conversion to type and conversion to role training at its Dishforth base in Yorkshire. In 2010 the Lynx Mk.9A helicopters will deploy to Afghanistan to support British and coalition forces, where its exceptional hot and high performance will enable the aircraft to operate year round in the demanding environmental conditions experienced there.

Nick Whitney, Senior VP - UK Government Business Unit, said at the handover of the fourth aircraft “Everybody involved at AgustaWestland, our suppliers and the MoD Project Team are to be congratulated for delivering the first four aircraft in just 12 months against an extremely tight programme schedule. We know the enhanced operational capabilities these aircraft will deliver will be of great benefit to our troops in Afghanistan and we are now working around the clock to ensure we deliver the remaining aircraft not just on time but ahead of schedule.” Following the flight of the first aircraft in September 2009 the Lynx Mk.9A completed its qualification test programme successfully demonstrating the airframe was capable of maximising the improved performance provided by the LHTEC CTS800 engines, thus meeting or exceeding the customers’ Key User Requirements.

In addition to upgrading the aircraft AgustaWestland has successfully completed maintainer and aircrew training programmes at its Yeovil facility, delivered new Integrated Electronic Technical Publications, spares packages and lap-top based training emulations. A further three aircraft will be delivered by April 2010, followed by the final batch of five aircraft by September 2010, giving the British Army 12 Lynx Mk.9A helicopters three months ahead of the contracted date. AgustaWestland is also working with the MoD on a follow-on-contract to upgrade the remaining 10 Lynx Mk.9s to Mk.9A standard, which would see the final aircraft being upgraded by early 2012.

L'hélicoptère Future Lynx réalise ses premiers vols



C'est en novembre que le nouvel hélicoptère AW-159 Wildcat, conçu par AugustaWestland, s'est envolé pour la première fois. Destiné à l'armée de Terre et la marine britanniques, cet appareil remplacera le Lynx actuellement en service. Le « Future Lynx », comme on l'appelle, devrait être opérationnel dans la Royal Navy en 2015, soit un an après son admission au service actif dans l'Army Air Corps. Bien que ses lignes rappellent celles de son aîné, l'AW-159 est bien un nouvel hélicoptère. Il adopte un design optimisé, notamment pour l'emport d'équipements (système FLIR, désignation laser, missiles antinavire légers, système de leurrage). Il adopte également deux turbines CTS800-4N, 36% plus puissantes que celles des actuels Lynx.
En tout, 62 hélicoptères doivent être livrés au forces britanniques, les deux versions étant très proches l'une de l'autre, permettant ainsi de permuter les machines entre l'armée de Terre et la Navy. Dans sa version navale, le Future Lynx pourra mener des missions de surveillance et d'assaut en haute mer ou en zone côtière. Il sera, notamment, capable d'embarquer jusqu'à 8 missiles antinavire légers, des roquettes, une mitrailleuse de 12.7 mm ou un canon de 20 mm.