Aircraft
Lynx goes wild as first flight approaches
After a difficult period in which the whole program’s future lay in doubt, AgustaWestland’s Future Lynx has emerged with a new name–AW159 Lynx Wildcat–and

After a difficult period in which the whole program’s future lay in doubt, AgustaWestland’s Future Lynx has emerged with a new name–AW159 Lynx Wildcat–and renewed optimism. The aircraft was selected by the UK Ministry of Defence in May 2006 to fulfill its battlefield reconnaissance helicopter requirement for the British Army, and a surface combatant maritime rotorcraft requirement for the Royal Navy. The selection was made as part of a strategic partnership between AgustaWestland and the MoD.

At the time, the agreement envisioned an initial buy of 70 helicopters: 40 for the army and 30 for the navy. After a long hiatus, the MoD confirmed a revised order for 62 (34 army and 28 navy) in December 2008. Final assembly of the first copy had begun the previous month, and the airplane is slated to fly this November.

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