Thursday 12 November 2009, the first AgustaWestland AW159 multi-role military helicopter successfully completed its maiden flight at AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility. The aircraft completed a range of general handling checks during the flight and performed as expected. It will be joined by two further aircraft in 2010 to complete the flight testing of the AW159 and the wide range of role equipment the aircraft will carry.
The AW159 is designed and developed to meet the UK MoD's demanding requirements for a multi-role military helicopter.
In June 2006, 62 of the AW159, which will be known Lynx Wildcat in UK military service, have been ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence for the Army and Royal Navy, to perform both land and maritime missions. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2011 with the aircraft becoming fully operational with the Army in 2014 and the Royal Navy in 2015. The British Army's AW159 Lynx Wildcat will perform a wide range of tasks on the battlefield including reconnaissance, command and control, transportation of troops and materiel, and the provision of force protection. The Royal Navy variant will provide an agile maritime capability providing anti-surface warfare capability and force protection and will operate in support of amphibious operations and be an important element in defending ships against surface threats. There will be a high degree of commonality between the Army and Royal Navy helicopters that will mean that an aircraft can switch roles easily, principally through the changing of role equipment.
http://www.agustawestland.com/news/new-aw159-takes-air
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