The Westland Lynx is a helicopter designed by Westland Aircraft and jointly produced with Aérospatiale, 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 the Army and Navy Lynx, which went into operational usage in 1977 and was later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations.

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 100km closed circuit record shortly afterwards, flying at 318.504 km/h.

The British Army ordered 100 Lynx AH Mk.1 for various roles, including tactical transport, armed escort, antitank warfare (with eight TOW missiles), reconnaisance and evacuation. The Army have fitted a Marconi Elliot AFCS system to the Lynx for automatic stabilisation on three axes.

Service history

In British service it equips the Army Air Corps (AAC) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It performs an attack helicopter role for the AAC as the Lynx AH Mk.7, a role which it is also used for by the FAA in support of the Royal Marines. Its other role in the FAA is as a helicopter for surface combatants. In this role it carries out anti-submarine warfare, and can be equipped with the Sea Skua anti-ship missile.

Its most high profile combat role came with that missile, when it was used to devastating effect against the Iraqi Navy during the 1991 Gulf War. The Lynx also saw service with British Army forces during that conflict. Its combat debut in British service came during the Falklands War, when three were lost, one on the MV Atlantic Conveyor and one each on board HMS Coventry and HMS Ardent.

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.

Versions

• Westland WG.13: prototype that first flew on 21 March 1971.
• Lynx AH Mk.1: Initial production version for the 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.
• Lynx HAS Mk.2: Initial production version for the Royal Navy and the French Aeronavale. 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 (British version) or four AS.12 missiles (French version).
• Lynx HAS Mk.3: Upgraded version for the Royal Navy.
• Lynx HAS Mk.4: Upgraded version for the Aeronavale.
• Lynx AH Mk.5: Upgraded version for the Army Air Corps.
• Lynx AH Mk.7: Attack version for the Army Air Corps.
• Lynx HMA Mk.8 or "Super Lynx": Upgraded maritime attack version.
• Lynx AH Mk.9 or "Battlefield Lynx": Army version of the Super Lynx.

Notes:

• HMA: Helicopter Maritime Attack

Users

• Argentina
• Brazil
• British Army
• British Royal Navy
• Denmark
• French Navy
• German Navy (Twelve ordered in 1981 for use on navy frigates.)
• Korea, Republic of
• Royal Malaysian Navy
• Netherlands Royal Navy (Six search and rescue and 18 anti-submarine warfare models.)
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Portuguese Navy (Used on "Vasco da Gama" class frigates.)
• South African Air Force (Four of the Super Lynx 300 version for use on the SAN's Valour class patrol corvettes.)
• Qatar

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft: SH-60 Sea Hawk - SH-2 Sea Sprite

Designation sequence:

A ''Lynx'' helicopter taking off from the ''Ouragan''	Replacment of a turbine on one of the two ''Lynx'' helicopters of the ''Motte-Picquet''	a ''Lynx'' helicopter armed with a Mk46 torpedo	A ''Lynx'' helicopter of the 31F wing
A ''Lynx'' helicopter of the French Navy flying over Musha and Mascali islands (air wing of the ''Motte-Picquet'' frigate)

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