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DeliciousWildcat helicopter test 'a success'
Wednesday, November 25, 2009The first of 62 Wildcat helicopters ordered for the Army and Royal Navy has successfully undertaken its first test flight at AgustaWestland's Yeovil plant.
The aircraft undertook a short flight to assess handling characteristics and reportedly performed well.
The Wildcat helicopter benefits from simple airframe construction, fully integrated avionics and glass cockpit, and upgraded engines. Improved reliability and reduced maintenance time are also listed as benefits of the Wildcat over the previous Lynx helicopters.
Stewart Deakin, Defence Equipment & Support's Wildcat programme manager, said: "This is without doubt a very important milestone. This date was set at contract award in June 2006 and it is to AgustaWestland and the Lynx project team's credit to have delivered it on time.
"This has been facilitated by much joint working between the two teams under the Strategic Partnering Arrangement between the MoD and AgustaWestland, dealing with any issues together in a timely fashion."
Deliveries of the Wildcat, also known as the AW159, are set to begin in 2011, with the aircraft entering service with the Army in 2014 and the Royal Navy the following year.
It will be deployed for reconnaissance, troop and equipment transport, force protection and the support of amphibious operations.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Does it really take three years to get the thing into service? I know that we have to train people and figure out how fix them but three years!!!!????
John Walkley - Budapest Hungary
Well just to think our guys on the ground could have really used them if they were available!!
john - UK
Why would they find them useful? It will only be capable of carrying six troops, not really much use. Besides, they are currently putting new engines in the Lynx AH9 at the moment specifically for Afghanistan, so at least they will be available from next year. Oh, and the first flight of the Lynx Wildcat took place nearly two weeks ago, the press release that this story was sourced from was a bit late.
Michael - UK
If options had been taken up, the army would be getting 45, not 34."British jobs for British workers". The extra 11 are peanuts in comparison to the tens of billions casually handed to the banks. Large helicopters are great for mass movement of troops, but cannot get in & out of the tight spots a Lynx sized helicopter can. In short you need both types.
John Hartley - Woking, England, UK
This is a subject I have FOIA'd the MoD several times on, and still waiting for a proper answer.
It might be a great heli, but for only 62? 34 for the army and 28 for the RN. How many current Lynx are in service? Over 160 of both AH9 and the navys HMA8. 160 replaced by 62!!!! Laughable. What are our boys and girls complaining about ? Lack of helis. Wow, that order really goes some way to relieving overstretch doesnt it??
My other bone of contention with the MoD is the force structure. They keep telling me it wont change. How are 34 airframes for the AAC supposed to go into equipping 8 squadrons, plus training unit plus the usual attrition reserves, maintenance, etc? They wont give me a straight answer, except did try to fob me off wth trying to tell me the force structure was only 5 squadrons. They dont even know their own force structure!
Expect a big cut in AAC squadrons real soon.
Yet I read, and I assume its accurate, Sikorsky offered 60 Blackhawks for 400 million. Yes I know its a different cat of helicopter but I'm giving an example. If the forces want greater numbers MoD cant keep on going for the top priced option.
Its because its British, British jobs for British workers = hopefully votes for unelected Brown.
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford