Lynx Mk 7/ Mk 9 Multi-Role Helicopter, United Kingdom

The UK Army Air Corps operates the Lynx Army Helicopter (Lynx AH) mk 7 and mk 9, and the export version of the Army Lynx is known as the Battlefield Lynx. About 77 AH mk 7 versions and 22 AH mk 9 helicopters are in service with the UK Army.

The Army Lynx first flew in 1977. The initial role as a utility helicopter, a tactical troop and stores carrier, airborne command, and for casualty evacuation was expanded with the addition of air-to-ground missiles, cannon and rockets for armed reconnaissance, armed escort, anti-tank and air-to-surface strike roles.

In Operation Telic in Iraq, the Joint Helicopter Force Iraq (JHF(I)) which is a joint unit based in Basra and manned by members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, has deployed Sea King mk 4 and Lynx mk 7 helicopters from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), and also Merlin Helicopters from RAF Benson.

The Lynx helicopters operated in Iraq were modified with the installation of sand filters, new communications, night vision-compatible cockpit lighting, and a new defensive aids suite, a helicopter DAS, which included directed infrared countermeasures.

The Super Lynx helicopter is of conventional semi-monocoque pod and boom design. There is a jettisonable cockpit door and large sliding cabin door with jettisonable windows on each side of the fuselage. The large cabin doors allow rapid emplane and deplane. The cabin provides internal access to the cockpit.

The Battlefield Lynx and the AH mk 9 are fitted with non-retractable tricycle-type landing gear with twin nosewheels. The AH mk 7 has a skid type undercarriage which can be fitted with snow skis for Arctic operations. The aircraft is fitted with a wire-strike protection system.

MULTI-ROLE HELICOPTER COCKPIT

The cockpit accommodates the pilot and co-pilot but can be flown by a single pilot. A night vision-compatible cockpit allows the helicopter to be used for covert operations.

The navigation systems include a Racal Doppler 91 and RNS252, Honeywell AN/APN-198 radar altimeter, Rockwell Collins 206A automatic direction finder, BAE GMM9 Gyrosyn compass, Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Rockwell Collins VIR 31A VHF Omni-directional Ranger and Instrument Landing System (VOR/ILS), Rockwell Collins AN/ARN-118 Tactical Air Navigation system (TACAN).

The avionics system includes a BAE Systems mk 34 automatic flight control system and a BAE Systems automatic stabiliser.

LYNX CABIN

The helicopter can carry up to nine armed troops. The cabin seats can be quickly removed for freight transport. The maximum internal freight load is 910kg.

For casualty evacuation, the helicopter carries the pilot and co-pilot, up to six stretcher patients and a medical attendant. Underslung loads up to 1,360kg (3,000lb) can be carried. The aircraft has the capacity for up to four ropes for fast roping or rappelling. A rescue hoist can be deployed to recover personnel from confined spaces.

HELICOPTER WEAPONS

The army version helicopter has a pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun installed inside the cabin and two 20mm cannon can be mounted externally. External weapons pylons can carry two miniguns, gun pods, rocket pods, or up to eight air-to-surface missiles such as HOT, Hellfire or TOW. Up to eight missiles can be carried in the cabin ready for reloading.

COUNTERMEASURES

A BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) AN/ALQ-144 infrared jamming system is installed under the tailboom. The helicopter is equipped with the BAE AWARE-3 ARI 23491 radar warning receiver and the Sky Guardian mk15 electronic warfare system.

LYNX HELICOPTER SENSORS

A roof-mounted sight manufactured by BAE Systems under licence from Raytheon (formerly Hughes) is installed on the Lynx helicopters armed with TOW missiles. Optical sighting systems include lightweight targeting sights, vertical cameras, oblique cameras, low-light television, infrared line scanners and night-vision goggles.

ENGINES

The helicopters are powered by two Rolls-Royce Gem mk 42 turboshaft engines, rated at 835kW. The exhaust is fitted with diffusers to reduce the infrared signature.

There are five internal fuel tanks of capacity 985l. The 150kt transit speed gives a good tactical speed of response. The Super Lynx has exceptional agility allowing tactical nap-of-the-earth flight.

LANDING GEAR

The Lynx AH mk 9 has a wheeled undercarriage.