.Upgraded Lynx helicopters arrive in Afghanistan
Upgraded helicopters have gone into service in Afghanistan as part of efforts to bolster the firepower available to frontline British troops.
The Ministry of Defence said the Lynx Mk9A have a more advanced communication system and surveillance equipment.
Some 22 Lynx aircraft will eventually be upgraded to the Mk9A standard.
Meanwhile, the widow of an army bomb disposal expert has demanded to know why no helicopters were available after he was caught in an explosion.
Speaking to GMTV, Christina Schmid said of her husband Olaf's death: "There weren't any helicopters available. That begs the question, if he had just lost a limb would he have got out, would he have survived?"
The Lynx Mk9As have more powerful engines and the ability to operate all year round extreme weather conditions, which it is hoped will prove to be particularly useful in Helmand province.
The helicopters have also been fitted with M3M machine guns, which are capable of firing more than 850 rounds a minute
The upgraded helicopters have been transported by C-17 Globemaster aircraft from RAF Brize Norton to Camp Bastion.
Rotor blades were fitted and familiarisation flights took place before operational sorties began earlier this month.
"We are now in Afghanistan, playing an important role in protecting our ground forces and carrying out surveillance, boosting performance in Afghanistan's challenging conditions," said Maj Max Lytle, the officer commanding 672 Squadron.
The standard Lynx aircraft has been used by British forces in Afghanistan since 2006.
BBC
About time
The Ministry of Defence said the Lynx Mk9A have a more advanced communication system and surveillance equipment.
Some 22 Lynx aircraft will eventually be upgraded to the Mk9A standard.
Meanwhile, the widow of an army bomb disposal expert has demanded to know why no helicopters were available after he was caught in an explosion.
Speaking to GMTV, Christina Schmid said of her husband Olaf's death: "There weren't any helicopters available. That begs the question, if he had just lost a limb would he have got out, would he have survived?"
The Lynx Mk9As have more powerful engines and the ability to operate all year round extreme weather conditions, which it is hoped will prove to be particularly useful in Helmand province.
The helicopters have also been fitted with M3M machine guns, which are capable of firing more than 850 rounds a minute
The upgraded helicopters have been transported by C-17 Globemaster aircraft from RAF Brize Norton to Camp Bastion.
Rotor blades were fitted and familiarisation flights took place before operational sorties began earlier this month.
"We are now in Afghanistan, playing an important role in protecting our ground forces and carrying out surveillance, boosting performance in Afghanistan's challenging conditions," said Maj Max Lytle, the officer commanding 672 Squadron.
The standard Lynx aircraft has been used by British forces in Afghanistan since 2006.
BBC
About time
posted by madtom at 10:03 PM
1 Comments:
The Lynx was known to be underpowered in the first Gulf War in 1991, but the then proposed engine upgrade came to nothing. In Brunei and Belize the AAC uses the Bell 212 'Huey' because the standard Lynx can't handle the heat. The engine upgrade has been used by foreign navies since around 2002. It's great that the Lynx was given more powerful engines, it's just a shame it took so long.
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