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AgustaWestland
AW159 multi-role maritime helicopter |
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The
AW159 is the latest twin-engine multi-role, maritime and utility aircraft
developed from the extremely successful AgustaWestland Lynx family of
helicopters that has successfully met the needs of many operators for
more than thirty years. Designated the Lynx Wildcat by the UK MOD, the
AW159 is the multi-role helicopter chosen by the British Army and Royal
Navy to replace the Lynx helicopter and to meet maritime combatant and
land utility and reconnaissance requirements and to be delivered to
the UK MOD in 2012. Also available to the international marketplace,
the AW159 provides a unique and significant upgrade in terms of operational
capability when compared to other aircraft in its class. The AW159 is
a purpose built military aircraft with a fully marinised airframe that
has been designed for all environments, including the harsh sea conditions
associated with ship borne operations, and equipped with modern systems
designed to provide low crew workload, reliability and ease of maintenance.
With its unmatched agility and ability to rapidly change roles, coupled
with the latest avionics, communications and mission suite, the network
enabled AW159 provides the user with an advanced day/night all weather
capability. Additionally, the AW159 offers air manoeuvre for command
and control of specialist teams, counter-terrorism tasks, close battle
casualty evaluation and additional command and control. In January 2013,
AgustaWestland has announced that the Republic of Korea has selected
the AW159 helicopter to meet its Maritime Operational Helicopter requirement.
The contract for eight AW159 helicopters for the Republic of Korea Navy
is the first export order for this new generation aircraft, known as
the AW159 Wildcat in UK service. AgustaWestland is already delivering
AW159 Wildcats into service in the UK to fulfil the UK Ministry of Defence’s
order for 62 AW159 helicopters for the Royal Navy and British Army.
Deliveries of the AW159s for the Republic of Korea will start in 2015
and be completed in 2016. |
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Main Variants: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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AW159 Maritime: With its multi-role design and unique ability
to integrate into the smallest frigates and offshore patrol vessels/corvettes,
the AW159 will provide added utility and effect to any maritime operator.
Able to operate worldwide in all environments, the AW159 will significantly
extend the area capability and operational effect of its host maritime
platform. The aircraft has the ability to autonomously detect, identify
and engage surface, land and sub-surface targets. Armament options include
air to surface missiles, torpedoes, depth charges, air to ground rockets,
cannon and heavy machine gun. - AW159 Military Utility: The military utility version of AW159, in common with the naval version has a fully marinised airframe and provisions for a range of mission and utility equipments which enable a true multi-role capability. |
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Technical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Designed
for all-weather operations and with the latest systems that provide
low pilot workload, reliability and ease of maintenance, the AW159 can
deliver an advanced day / night all weather, network enabled capability
to find, fix and strike - with integration into any digital battle space
or theatre of operation. The AW159 provides enhanced performance and
operational capability with an increase in maximum all up mass to 6
tonnes. This provides a significant upgrade in terms of lift and operational
effect, when compared with other aircraft in its class. With a spacious
cabin and two large doors, for easy egress and unloading, the AW159
is capable of carrying and deploying a wide range of troop, equipment
or weapon payloads including heavy machine gun and air-to-surface rockets. |
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Avionics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
AW159 is equipped with a comprehensive and highly capable integrated
avionics suite that enables advanced navigation, communication, theatre
integration and stores management functionality. The fully integrated
digital cockpit provides an increased mission capability with a reduction
of aircrew workload. The helicopter is equipped with a sophisticated
suite of mission sensors, including, Active Electronic Scanned Array
(AESA) radar; Active Dipping Sonar (ADS) for the naval variant; Electro
Optical Device (EOD) for imaging and target designation; Electronic
Support Measures (ESM) and an integrated Defence Aids Suite (DAS). |
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Propulsion | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The AW159 is powered by a pair of LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, each providing
up to 1,361 shp, which gives the aircraft exceptional performance, even
in hot and high environments. The engine installation also incorporates
exhausts with built in IR suppression to provide increased survivability.
Exceptional agility enables the aircraft to operate tactically, flying
nap of the earth profiles while the proven CTS800 engines provide the
AW159 with unrivalled hot and high performance. The AW159 has a semi-rigid
rotor head which gives it high agility and the same legendary ship operating
capabilities of the Lynx helicopter. It is also fitted with composite
rotor blades utilising the same technology that enabled the Lynx to
break the world helicopter speed record. |
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Armament | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With
a spacious cabin and two large doors, for easy egress and unloading,
the AW159 is capable of carrying and deploying a wide range of troop,
equipment or weapon payloads including heavy machine gun and air-to-surface
rockets. - Forward firing cannon - 7.62/12.7mm pintle mounted machine gun - Air-to-surface rockets - Air-to-surface missiles - Torpedoes - Depth charges |
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Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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