HMS Ocean conducts first-time operations of Wildcat helicopter

The UK Royal Navy's latest helicopter, the Wildcat, has landed on the HMS Ocean for the first time during Exercise Joint Warrior in the North Sea.
The attack helicopter was commissioned last year at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, and began its operational deployment at sea this year.
The new helicopters are scheduled to replace the Lynx helicopter.
naval-technology

Portugal eyes upgrade for Super Lynx fleet

The Portuguese Navy has confirmed plans for the life extension and modernisation of its five-strong fleet of AgustaWestland Super Lynx Mk 95 shipborne helicopters.
The upgrade package would include new engines and avionics.
The scope of the embodiment will be similar to the Brazilian Navy Super Lynx upgrade.
Delivered from 1993, the Super Lynx Mk 95 fleet comprises three new-build aircraft, and two ex-Royal Navy Lynx HAS.3 airframes remanufactured to the Mk 95 standard.
janes

New Algerian Super Lynx nears delivery

AgustaWestland is close to delivering its first of six new Super Lynx 300-series helicopters to the Algerian navy, with the manufacturer having recently conducted flight trials of the type carrying South African-produced missiles.
flightgloba

German Navy Grounds Sea Lynx Helicopter Fleet

A 22-centimeter-long crack discovered in a German Sea Lynx Mk88 helicopter has grounded 21 of the Navy’s 22-strong Sea Lynx fleet.
The crack appeared on the hoist arm of a Sea Lynx onboard the frigate Lübeck, currently at sea. As other Sea Lynx have shown a precondition for the same defect, the whole fleet will be checked.
c4isrnet

Wildcat helicopter replacing Royal Navy's Westland Lynx passes first major test

The newest helicopter in the Royal Navy's arsenal came through its toughest test, spending a fortnight taking part in Europe's biggest naval war games.
Wildcat joined HMS Dragon on Exercise Joint Warrior. It is the first time the helicopter – normally based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset with 700W Naval Air Squadron – has spent such a concerted time at sea, and the first time it has taken part in the exercise aboard a ship.
From next year, Wildcat will start to replace the Lynx as the mainstay of aerial operations by the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers.
Although it looks similar to its predecessor, Wildcat is a different aircraft, from the way it handles, to the equipment aboard – which is a generation ahead of that on the Lynx.
Later this year Wildcat will go through two months of intensive Operational Sea Training with a Type 23 frigate to prepare ship and helicopter for deployment.
Wildcat is due to be declared operational in early 2015 and is due to deploy for the first time with a Royal Navy warship on the North Atlantic patrol next May.
westerndailypress

New Wildcat aircraft drops in on Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon for the first time

The Royal Navy’s Wildcat, the maritime attack variant of the Lynx helicopter, is currently undergoing extensive trials with 700W Naval Air Squadron.
From next year, Wildcat will begin to replace the Lynx Mark 8 as the helicopter which supports Royal Navy destroyer and frigate operations.
Wildcat will be a more permanent presence on board Dragon later this month as, for the first time, the helicopter is embarking on the ship for the latest Exercise Joint Warrior; a biannual exercise in which British and foreign armed forces hone their skills off the coast of Scotland.
The Wildcat roll-out programme continues apace, and plans are in motion for the current flight to be the first to complete operational sea training with a Type 23 frigate in the autumn.
gov.uk

Philippine Navy Looks at the Possibility of Acquiring AW-159 "Wildcat"Helicopter

The Philippines Department of National Defense announced on Monday that it has allocated funds for the acquisition of two brand-new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters for the Philippine Navy.
The Philippine Navy earlier announced that it is looking at the possibility of acquiring the AW-159 "Wildcat" as its ASW helicopters.
The ASW choppers will be assigned to the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16).
The AW-159 is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter.
The AW-159 will serve in the battlefield utility, search and rescue and anti-surface warfare roles.
The AW-159 is fitted with forward firing CRV7 rockets and machine guns, pintle mounted machine gun, Sea Skua missiles and Sting-Ray torpedoes and depth charges.
The acquisition process for these ASW helicopters is expected to go on full gear once the Philippine Navy completes its five AW-109 order deal from AgustaWestland by the third quarter of 2014.
defense-studies

UK to send ship to help Philippines

The UK will send HMS Daring Royal Navy warship to help deal with the storm disaster.
An RAF C-17 transporter plane will be sent as well.
Up to 10,000 people are feared to have been killed.
Britain is contributing £10m and HMS Daring, currently deployed near Singapore, will shortly be heading at full speed towards the disaster zone with further support from an RAF C-17 which will be a powerful help to the relief operation.
The additional support announced by the prime minister will provide aid flights to Cebu in the eastern Philippines, the delivery of temporary shelters, blankets and water purification tablets to 300,000 people, and household goods for water treatment and storage.
Launched in 2006, HMS Daring was the first of the Navy's six £1bn Type 45 destroyers.
It has a Lynx helicopter on board and has equipment to make drinking water from seawater.

bbc.co.uk

Royal Malaysian Navy Plans To Acquire Anti-submarine Helicopters

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has proposed for the government to acquire anti-submarine helicopters to increase the force's capabilities.
Navy chief Admiral says "At least six anti-submarine aircraft are needed to form a squadron.
The Kota Kinabalu RMN Base in Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah will house the squadron where two of the country's submarines are also stationed.
The Kota Kinabalu RMN Base currently has two French Scorpene submarines, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak.
defense-studies

British military flying in Germany ends after 68 years

British military flying in Germany has ended after 68 years with a ceremonial fly-past of the last Lynx helicopters on Friday.
The withdrawal of the remaining choppers is part of a sharp reduction of Britain’s 20,000-strong military presence in Germany. In March was that all British troops would be withdrawn from their bases in Germany by 2020. 15,000 servicemembers will be pulled out in the next three years.
The last three Lynx helicopters of the 1st Regiment Army Air Corps based in Germany left their base at Gütersloh on Friday.
At the height of the Cold War, the Royal Air Force had hundreds of aircraft — including several squadrons of nuclear bombers — in West Germany, and operated dozens of air bases throughout the country.
stripes.com

German navy Lynx to get new Titan sensor fit

Germany's defence ministry has signed a €5 million ($6.5 million) deal with Selex ES to acquire an undisclosed number of Titan 385ES-HD high-definition electro-optical/infrared sensors to equip part of its navy fleet of Westland Lynx 88A maritime helicopters.
flightglobal

La decisión de Portugal de mantener los Súper Linx MK-95 operativos anula su posible venta a Uruguay.

Los contactos- que no contaron con el beneplácito de la Aviación Naval Uruguaya, interesada en helicópteros más económicos de mantener-fueron sondeos de Gobierno a Gobierno entre Portugal y Uruguay, conversaciones que incluyeron además la posible compra de las patrulleras de altura "Viana do Castelo" o navíos como los de la clase "Baptista de Andrade", y habrían derivado en una visita técnica de oficiales navales uruguayos a Portugal. Hoy, en lo que a la adquisición de los Super Linx MK-95 portugueses se refiere, el tema habría quedado sin efecto tras anunciar durante la Conferencia Internacional de Helicópteros Militares en Londres, el comandante Paulo Lopes, al frente de la Escuadrilla de Helicópteros de la Marina Portuguesa, la decisión de la Fuerza de mantener los Súper Linx hasta 2030, aún reconociendo lo costoso de su mantenimiento y el esfuerzo técnico.

poderiomilitar-jesus

Royal Navy's 847 Squadron returns from USA trained and ready to fight

Why did 847 Naval Air Squadron go all the way to the US Naval Air Facility at El Centro in California? Well, it replicates many of the climatic and geographical features that the squadron will encounter in Helmand province, Afghanistan, and provides excellent value in terms of training.

mod.uk

Royal Navy Lynx joins French frigate for counter-piracy ops

As part of the initiative for the UK and French Armed Forces to work more closely together, a Lynx Mk8 aircraft and 12 UK personnel from 217 Flight, based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, will deploy with the French frigate FS Surcouf as part of Operation ATALANTA, off the Horn of Africa.

mod.uk

Dutch Lynx flies last operational mission

The Netherlands' Defence Helicopter Command has conducted its last operational flight with a Westland Lynx, bringing to an end a service history spanning 36 years. The milestone sortie was performed at its Naval Air Station De Kooy base on 11 September.

learn more

Helicópteros Lynx de la Armada Danesa pasan a control de la Fuerza Aérea/ Danish Naval helicopters transferred to Air Force

Los ocho helicópteros Lynx operados por la Armada de Dinamarca han sido transferidos a la Fuerza Aérea, que se hará cargo de todos los helicópteros de la Armada progresivamente.
(leer más)
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Danish Navy’s eight Lynx helicopters has been transferred to the Air Force under a plan by the Danish government to let the air force take charge of all helicopters.
(read more)

El portaaeronaves HMS Ark Royal embarca helicópteros Lynx/HMS Ark Royal embarks Lynx

El HMS Ark Royal de la Royal Navy británica es el primer portaeronaves en tener como dotación propia sus propios helicópteros Lynx. Se trata de aparatos pertenecientes al 212 del 815 Naval Air Squadron.
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HMS Ark Royal is the first aircraft carrier to have its own Lynx flight when 212 Flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron came onboard for its current deployment.
(read more)

Entran en servicio con el Ejercito Británico en Afganistán los Lynx AH9A modernizados/British Army's Lynx AH9A enters use in Afghanistan

El Ejército Británico ha empezado a utilizar los primeros helicópteros AgustaWestland Lynx AH9A modernizados en Afganistán. Dos unidades llegaron a la base de Camp Bastion a bordo de un C-17 de la RAF.
Equipan nuevos motores Honeywell/Rolls-Royce LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, y podrán volar a cualquier zona de Afganistán, algo que no podía hacerse con las versiones Lynx AH7/9s. Van armados con ametralladora de 12.7 mm., equipos de comunicaciones mejorados y nuevas medidas de autoprotección.
Desarrollarán misiones de escolta de convoy, reconocimiento, vigilancia, y transporte de tropas.
AgustaWestland modificará los 22 of the Lynx AH9 del ejército al nuevo standard.
www.flightglobal.com
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The British Army has successfully introduced its first upgraded AgustaWestland Lynx AH9A utility helicopters into frontline use in Afghanistan.
Two of the modified aircraft were delivered to Camp Bastion aboard a Royal Air Force Boeing C-17 strategic transport from Brize Norton in the UK, and entered operational use earlier this month.
Equipped with new Honeywell/Rolls-Royce LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, the AH9As will be capable of flying year-round in Afghanistan, unlike the army’s baseline Lynx AH7/9s. The modified aircraft also have M3M 12.7mm (0.50cal) machine guns, and improved communications, surveillance and self-protection equipment.

Roles to be performed with the Lynx AH9A include convoy overwatch, reconnaissance, surveillance, support helicopter escort and troop transport.
AgustaWestland is working to modify all 22 of the army’s Lynx AH9s to the enhanced standard.

www.flightglobal.com

Marina de Corea del Sur paraliza flota de helicópteros Lynx/South Korean Navy Grounds Lynx Helos

La Marina de Corea del Sur ha suspendido los vuelos de su flota de helicópteros Lynx tras los accidentes sufridos por dos de ellos recientemente. Se han ordenado inspecciones de emergencia para investigar las causas.
La Marina de Corea del Sur contaba con 25 Lynx para guerra marítima y antisubmarina, 12 Mk.99 Lynx entregados inicialmente en 1990, y 13 Mk.99A en 1999 estos últimos de la versión Super Lynx. Las posibles causas son problemas de motor y fatiga del piloto. Los Lynx de Corea del Sur son propulsados por motores Rolls-Royce Gem 42-1, motor que ya está fuera de producción, aunque la Marina asegura que su mantenimiento ha sido asegurado con piezas procedentes de la Royal Navy británica.
(defensenews.com)
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The South Korean Navy has suspended its fleet of Lynx anti-submarine helicopters following the back-to-back crashes of two of them last week. The service ordered emergency safety inspections of the British helicopters to investigatethe cause of the crashes.
The Navy had operated 25 Lynx helicopters modified for anti-submarine and surface warfare. The first batch of 12 Mk.99 Lynx helicopters was delivered in 1990, and the second batch of 13 Mk.99A Super Lynx helicopters in 1999.
Possible causes include an engine problem and pilot fatigue.
The South Lynxs are powered by two Rolls-Royce Gem 42-1 engines, whose production was halted years ago. The Navy therefore has had difficulty supplying the Gem engines but managed to secure used engines from the Royal Navy.
(defensenews.com)

PRIMEROS LYNX MK9 MODERNIZADOS/FIRST LYNX UPDATED LYNX MK9 RE-ENTERS IN SERVICE

Los 4 primeros helicópteros Lynx Mk9 modernizados han re-entrado en servicio, 3 de ellos están siendo usados para entrenamiento, antes de su despliegue a Afganistan, en el 9 Regiment Army Air Corps en Dishforth, North Yorkshire
Las mejoras en los 12 primeros 12 Mk9, fueron ordenadas por el Ministerio de Defensa hace un año.
El Mk9 lleva un nuevo motor, con mas potencia para operar en el clima extremo de Afganistán, el mismo que dotará al Lynx Wildcat previsto en 2014, además de mejorar la capacidad de carga en 1 tonelada. Otras mejoras son nuevo cockpit digitalizado, y nueva estructura para acomodar al nuevo motor. El resto de helicópteros hasta doce se entregarán este año, procedentes de la factoría de AgustaWestland en Yeovil, Somerset.
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The first four upgraded Lynx Mk9 helicopters, which are to be sent to Afghanistan, have re-entered service, with three of the aircraft now being used for training, prior to deployment, at 9 Regiment Army Air Corps in Dishforth, North Yorkshire
The upgrades on initially twelve Mk9s were ordered by the MOD a year ago, with upgrades on the remaining ten aircraft likely to follow.
The Mk9a benefits from a considerably more powerful engine that enables operation in the challenging hot and high conditions of Afghanistan and the same engine is also being fitted to the new Lynx Wildcat which is expected to be delivered to the military from 2014.Lift capacity in the Mk9a is increased by 1 tonne over the earlier version.
Other improvements include an updated instrument panel and digital displays and a modified gearbox and rear structure to accommodate the new powerplant. The remainder of the twelve helicopters will be delivered over this next year from AgustaWestland's factory at Yeovil, Somerset.
Their role will include fire support, troop transport and casualty evacuation.