Are we going to see more exports of Wildat, it does seem the best helicopter in class?
South Korea buying Naval Wildcats. First export order for the type I believe.
There are still a few other navies using Lynx models around the world, think there is much of a market for further Wildcat sales? And the weapons to be integrated on it like LMM and whichever version of SPEAR is meant to be used.
By: aussienscale - 17th January 2013 at 08:54
it should be considered that the Westland Lynx holds the official world speed record for helicopters.
A Westland Lynx, one with different engines, rotors, stripped of weight etc
A standard production Lynx is comparible to many other helicopters available, but they certainly are a very nice piece of kit indeed, a quick Youtube search brings up some nice clips 🙂
By: Wanshan - 16th January 2013 at 23:29
Machines capable of vertical flight have to compromise between hover performance and speed. The highly prized attributes of good hover efficiency and hover endurance, low speed controllability and low downwash mean that forward speed is severely limited. In that context, it should be considered that the Westland Lynx holds the official world speed record for helicopters. That attribute (speed) probably also applies for the Wildcat and is particularly usefull in the naval context (getting within range of a sub or surface target). Another strengths of the Lynx is its impressive manoeuvrability: it is able to do rolls and loops that other helicopters cannot, and that combined with high speed make for an interesting package.
By: MSphere - 15th January 2013 at 23:45
What about the Battlefield version, what actual others are of the same sort of size, S-70 and NH90 are both a lot larger (and NH90 TTH has meant to have some major faults)
Most of the TTH problems do not directly relate to NFH. Talking about things like fragile cargo compartment floors which are easily damaged by combat boots – on the NFH you can use persian carpets if you like.
By: Fedaykin - 15th January 2013 at 23:32
Just some further thoughts on my last post.
In the end to operate a helicopter safely at sea it needs a whole load of specialised features.
By: Fedaykin - 15th January 2013 at 23:27
I wouldn’t hold out much hope for the land variant in the export market, the Lynx in army guise had virtually no exports.
I think the reason why the naval version was a success is due to it filling a niche with the only rival in the market in that class being the AS365 Dauphin/AS565 Panther.
When it comes to land operations there are lots of alternatives in that performance class. Many armies will buy a civilian helicopter and adapt it for role as they then benefit from the economies of buying a widely established type.
By: giganick1 - 15th January 2013 at 23:17
What about the Battlefield version, what actual others are of the same sort of size, S-70 and NH90 are both a lot larger (and NH90 TTH has meant to have some major faults)
By: Fedaykin - 15th January 2013 at 22:53
I think it has a good chance, the Lynx was always very competitively priced. The Wildcat appears to be much the same, it undercuts the Seahawk a type that benefits from huge economies of scale due to USN purchases.
Is it the best Helicopter in its class? Hard to decide that one, NH90 and Seahawk both have favourable features.
Sign In
January 15, 2013 at 10:37 pm