Rotorcraft Report: AgustaWestland Gets U.K. Future Lynx Order

MILITARY/RECON-ATTACK

AgustaWestland has received a £1-billion ($1.9 billion) order from the U.K. Defence Ministry for 70 Future Lynx helicopters. The order would provide the British Army with 40 battlefield reconnaissance and the Royal Navy with 30 surface combatant maritime helicopters. The order also provides an option to buy 10 additional Future Lynx.

In 2005, the Defence Ministry named AgustaWestland its preferred supplier on the programs to provide a new, common, marinized Lynx airframe for both the army and navy. The Future Lynx is based on the Super Lynx 300 and is intended to improve maintainability and logistics. The Future Lynx is expected to cut parts counts by up to 80 percent compared to the Super Lynx. It is scheduled to be in use in the British Army by 2014.