GKN Westland Super Sea Lynx Mk 88A (Super Lynx 100)

Type (Muster)
Naval helicopter for anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel operation (Marinehubschrauber für Einsätze gegen Schiffe und U-Boote)

Country (Land)
United Kingdom (Großbritannien)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
GKN Westland Helicopters Ltd.
Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2YB
United Kingdom

Phone: 0044/1935/47522
Fax: 0044/1935/4702319

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 + 1
Troops (Soldaten): 9 in the main cabin

Weapons (Bewaffnung): External stores stations on each side of the fuselage can take a variety of weapons including:
  * two torpedos (Mk.44, Mk.46, Stingray, A244/S)
  * up to four BAe Sea Skua anti-ship missiles. Ohter air-to-surface missiles such as the Marte Mk 1 and Penguin are also possible
  * two depth charges (Mk.11)

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Rolls-Royce Gem 42-1
Power (Leistung): 746 kW (1000 shp) at take-off (beim Start), 664 kW (890 shp) max. continuous (Dauerleistung), 835 kW (1120 shp) max. contingency for 2.5 min (Notleistung im Einmotorenflug)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 13,33 m
Length, rotors turning (Länge über die drehenden Rotoren): 15,24 m
Rotor diameter (Rotordurchmesser): 12,80 m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 2,36 m
Height (Höhe): 3,67 m
Width over landing gear (Breite incl. Fahrwerk): 2,94 m
Main rotor area (Rotorkreisfläche): 128,7 sqm

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 2,05 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,78 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,42 m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 5,2 cu m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 3291 kg basic (without radar and sonar)
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 1360 kg on cargo hook
Load on external hardpoints (Außenlast): approx. 590 kg
Max. fuel (max. Kraftstoff): 786 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 5330 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 256 km/h (138 kts)
Rate of climb (Steigrate): 10,1 m/s (1994 ft/min)
Hover out of ground effect (Schwebeflughöhe ohne Bodeneffekt): 2050 m or 340 m at ISA+15
Hover in ground effect (Schwebeflughöhe mit Bodeneffekt): 2700 m or 1180 m at ISA+15
Range (Reichweite): 528 km (285 NM)
Time on station (Patrouillenzeit)
- ASW mission: 2 h at 20 NM from ship (28 km vom Schiff entfernt),
- surveillance mission (Überwachungsmission): 3 h 50 min at 75 NM (140 km) from ship
Max. range (Reichweite): ca. 590 km
Ferry range (Überführungsreichweite): ca 1045 km

Customers (Kunden)
The Super Sea Lynx Mk 88A is a special version for the German Marineflieger, which have ordered seven, at 100 million Pounds.
In total, over 400 Lynx have been sold worldwide since the mid-70s. Among the naval users are:

Argentina: 2
Brazil: 18
Denmark: 9. Eight will be upgraded to Super Lynx standard.
France: 40 for the Aéronavale
Germany: 19 of the Mk 88 variant were delivered from 1981 to 1988
Netherlands: 24
Nigeria: 3
Norway: 6
Portugal: Three in 1993
South Africa: Selected Super Lynx 300 in 1998, but final contract not yet signed
South Korea: 12 in 1989 to 1991, plus another batch of 13, with deliveries beginning in the summer of 1999
UK Royal Navy: 60 of the HAS Mk 2s plus follow-on batches and conversion programmes

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk
Kaman SH-2G Seasprite

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
With the number of frigates rising, the German Marineflieger were in a desperate need for more shipborne helicopters to expand its small fleet of Sea Lynx. After a fierce battle in parliament and against strong opposition from the German audit office, it was finally decided to buy another seven Sea Lynx from Westland.
A fixed-price contract for the Mk 88A version, in essence an adapted Lynx HMA Mk 8 of the Royal Navy, was signed on 30 September 1996. It has a value of 100 million Pounds (300 Mio. DM). A 100 per cent offset package was agreed.
Formal roll-out of the new Mk 88A occured on 14. July 1999 at Westlands Yeovil works, with one helicopter performing a nice flying display for the official guests at the ceremony.
After flight test are completed, delivery of the first three helicopters to MFG3 "Graf Zeppelin" at Nordholz is planned for September, with the remaining four to follow by the end of the year. They will be operated form Type 122 and 123 frigates. Normally, two Super Sea Lynx will be on board.
The Marineflieger will also upgrade their 17 remaining Sea Lynx Mk 88 to the new standard. A contract worth 80 million Pound (250 Mio. DM) was signed in June 1998, with one helicopter acting as a pattern aircraft (to be completed early 2001) and the rest being modified at the Donauwörth factory of Eurocopter Deutschland until 2003. The upgraded aircraft will all be supplied with new fuselage into which the existing fleet's engines, flying controls, hydraulic systems, avionics and electrical systems will be transferred. Upgrades and modifications to the tail rotor system will complete the conversion.
The Super Sea Lynx, also known as the 100 series, is the latest upgrade of the Lynx family. It features the Marconi Sea Spray 3000 radar with a 360 degree antenna, and a multi-role turret (MRT) forward-looking infrared set on the nose.
The Super Lynx Series 300, which was selected by South Africa, will have a six-screeen EFIS cockpit, new navigation system and more powerful LHTEC CTS800 engines.

Last updated 2 August 1999

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