Wednesday
January 30, 2002
UK MoD Approves Future Lynx Funding
UK ( Westland Press Release ) -
The Ministry of Defence has announced that it has given the
go-ahead to the Assessment Phase for the UK's Battlefield
Light Utility Helicopter (BLUH) requirement. AgustaWestland's
Future Lynx has been selected on a single tender basis for this
Assessment Phase.
The Future Lynx design is a development of the existing Lynx helicopter, which is
in service with the British Army and Royal Navy. It incorporates an improved airframe,
new engines and a modern avionics suite. The Future Lynx concept has been developed in
order to provide a common air-vehicle to meet the Army and potential future Royal Navy
requirements.
Under Smart Acquisition, the purpose of the Assessment Phase is to provide the necessary
high confidence in the effectiveness of the aircraft, in programme timing and through-life costs
before a commitment to Manufacturing. The Assessment Phase activity for Future Lynx will consist
of engineering design and design proving work together with a focus on through-life support
aspects, many of which will also directly benefit the current in-service fleet. The Assessment
Phase is likely to take up to 18 months to complete.
Future Lynx builds strongly on the experience of recent export programmes which have proven
the concept of developing existing aircraft and the performance enhancement from the new LHTEC
CTS 800-4N engines, jointly developed by Rolls-Royce and Honeywell. For the modernisation of
Lynx avionics, AgustaWestland will be working closely with Thales as its collaborative partner
and also Smiths and BAE Systems, each of whom also brings strengths from existing products and
programmes.
Alan Johnston, Managing Director of Westland Helicopters Ltd, welcomed the announcement:
"Future Lynx builds strongly on the Super Lynx 300 aircraft which has recently sold in 3 overseas
countries. Today's announcement is a tremendous vote of confidence in Westland's capability, the
company's investment in the future standard of Lynx and in its major supply partners on Future
Lynx. But, we do recognise that the single tender approach is a significant step for MoD to
take. We shall continue to work closely with the MoD team to ensure a successful outcome to
the Assessment Phase activity in order to take Future Lynx forward into manufacture".
AgustaWestland became fully operational on February 12 2001. The completion followed
both the agreement drawn up by Finmeccanica SpA of Italy and GKN plc of the UK on July 26 2000
and the subsequent European regulatory approvals. The Joint Venture company is 50% each owned
by Finmeccanica and GKN. AgustaWestland is a single European company trading as Agusta SpA in
Italy and as Westland Helicopters Ltd in the UK.
With a combined 2000 revenue of more than $2.2 billion and a civil and defence order
book of about $7 billion, AgustaWestland is now a powerful force in the world helicopter
industry. It is a leader in a number of the world's most important programmes and has an
impressive pipeline of new products and technologies. Strategic partnerships have been
forged with other helicopter manufacturers such as Bell, Boeing and NH Industries and these
have further strengthened the product range. AgustaWestland can now satisfy a wide range of
needs from both civil and military customers with integrated platform systems that encompass
all the principal weight categories that can be adapted to a wide range of missions. Such
products range from the innovative 2.5 ton light single-engine A119 Koala to the 14 ton
three-engine EH101 helicopter.
Westland timeline
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