AgustaWestland to Upgrade Brazilian Navy Lynx

AgustaWestland, July 02, 2014 - Rome - Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland signed a contract for the upgrade of eight Lynx Mk21A helicopters of the Brazilian Navy’s Naval Aviation.

The contract, valued in excess of USD 160 million (EUR 117 million), includes new engines, upgraded navigation and mission avionics and a comprehensive support and training package which also comprises a flight training device.

The upgrade activities will begin in mid-2015, with the first helicopter scheduled to be delivered in late 2017. The complete batch of upgraded aircraft is planned to be delivered by early 2019.

These upgrades will give Brazil’s Naval Aviation a significant improvement in its capabilities, with better performance, operational range and aircraft mission effectiveness. The upgrade programme provides evidence of the company’s capability and expertise in naval rotorcraft, and further strengthens the long standing partnership with this leading operator which has operated Lynx helicopters since 1978.

The new generation CTS800-4N engines, already used on the British Army Lynx Mk9A, the Super Lynx 300 and the AW159, will provide the helicopters with major performance improvements in hot and high environments, enabling increased payload and an extended area of operation. A new glass cockpit will be complimented by an advanced avionic suite comprising a tactical processor, satellite based navigation system, traffic collision avoidance system, instrument landing system, radar warning receiver/electronic surveillance measures integrated with countermeasures dispensers and a full Night Vision Goggle compatible cockpit, together with a new electrically powered rescue hoist.

Finmeccanica is Italy’s leading manufacturer in the high technology sector and ranks among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. In 2013 Finmeccanica generated revenues of 16 billion Euro and obtained orders for 17.6 billion euro, with about 64,000 employees operating in 362 sites (of which 138 industrial facilities) in 22 countries worldwide. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (FNC IM; SIFI.MI), Finmeccanica is a multinational and multicultural group which boasts permanent industrial and commercial establishments in four domestic markets (Italy, United Kingdom, United States and Poland) and a significant network of partnerships at international level. Finmeccanica's success is based on its technological excellence, which springs from conspicuous investments in Research & Development (amounting to 11% of the revenues), and the constant efforts in developing and integrating the skills, know-how and values of its operating companies. Finmeccanica is active, through controlled companies and joint ventures, in the following sectors: Helicopters (AgustaWestland), Defence Electronics and Security (Selex ES, DRS Technologies), Aeronautics (Alenia Aermacchi, ATR, SuperJet International), Space (Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space), Defence Systems (Oto Melara, WASS, MBDA) and Transportation (Ansaldo STS, AnsaldoBreda, BredaMenarinibus).