Conceived under the banner of Future Lynx, but latterly rebranded as the AW159 to bring it in line with other products in the company's portfolio, the aircraft was originally developed to meet the needs of the UK's Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH) and Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) requirements.
As such, the AW159 – to be known as Wildcat in UK military service – is a six-tonne-class multirole rotorcraft that will be equally adept in land or maritime environments. A total of 62 aircraft have been ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), with 34 destined for the British Army and the remaining 28 for the Royal Navy (RN).
Its antecedents are clearly rooted in the Lynx, conceived more than 35 years ago to meet requirements for an agile battlefield helicopter and versatile small ship rotorcraft. Multiple variants have given sterling service to the British Army, Royal Marines and the RN, and continue to make a vital contribution in current operations, culminating recently with the re-engined Lynx AH.9A deployed in Afghanistan.
Over the same period, Lynx variants have clocked up significant orders overseas, becoming the shipborne helicopter of choice for more than 10 international navies.
( http://www.janes.com/news/defence/air/idr/idr100813_1_n.shtml )
As such, the AW159 – to be known as Wildcat in UK military service – is a six-tonne-class multirole rotorcraft that will be equally adept in land or maritime environments. A total of 62 aircraft have been ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), with 34 destined for the British Army and the remaining 28 for the Royal Navy (RN).
Its antecedents are clearly rooted in the Lynx, conceived more than 35 years ago to meet requirements for an agile battlefield helicopter and versatile small ship rotorcraft. Multiple variants have given sterling service to the British Army, Royal Marines and the RN, and continue to make a vital contribution in current operations, culminating recently with the re-engined Lynx AH.9A deployed in Afghanistan.
Over the same period, Lynx variants have clocked up significant orders overseas, becoming the shipborne helicopter of choice for more than 10 international navies.
( http://www.janes.com/news/defence/air/idr/idr100813_1_n.shtml )
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