THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - SUPER LYNX 300
Aircraft Stats:
Super Lynx 300
South Africa has ordered four Super Lynx 300 Mk 64 helicopters from AgustaWestland to operate from the SA Navy's Meko A200SAN class frigattes. The helicopters will provide a surface search capability in the anti-surface warfare roles, search and rescue (SAR), maritime patrol and utility duties.
The type was selected in competition against the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar and the Russian Kamov Ka 28 Helix. A dark horse in the race, imagined or otherwise, was Kaman's SG-2G Seasprite, said to be cheaper but is equally effective. Super Lynx pipped them to the post and a deal to deliver the four from April 2007 was signed in Pretoria on August 14, 2003.
According to the sales literature, the Super Lynx 300 was developed from the proven Super Lynx 100. It incorporates an all new integrated "glass" cockpit with a colour liquid crystal display system provides the crew with state-of-the-art technology increasing crew and mission effectiveness. The more powerful LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, jointly developed by Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, complemented with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) delivers low maintenance, enhanced performance and excellent economy with over 30% more power. The airframe is expected to last 10,000 hours.
The helicopter's maximum all up weight (MAUW) is 5 330 kg and the cabin can accommodate up to 9 troops. The crew consists of a pilot and a tactical officer, while additional crew can be used to operate special role equipment as necessary.
The role equipment incorporates a hoist to assist with SAR missions, a cargo hook for under-slung loads for ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship replenishment and a powerful searchlight.
The Telephonics Ocean-Eye radar is the aircraft's primary mission sensor and allows the crew to detect and track small to large surface contacts at long ranges. Complementing the radar is the Sysdel Sea Raven Electronic Support Measures (ESM) suite, which is used for passive target detection and identification. A Denel Optronics Argos 410-M Electro Optic Sight System with a forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) sensor and a day camera is used for passive target identification and recording. Target tracks and video images can be transmitted to the parent ship in real time using the Datalink unit supplied by Thales Advanced Engineering.
A 12,7 gun for self-protection will also form part of the current role equipment while growth options for surface and sub-surface warfare had been allowed for. This could include anti-ship missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, and rockets.
South African components include a Sysdel electronic warfare suite, a Saab Grintek Avitronics EW countermeasures system, an Aerosud armoured flight crew seats as well as an infrared exhaust suppression system - by the same company. Denel is supplying an electro-optical sighting system (EOSS) and Tellumat an Identification Friend or Foe system. Thales Advanced Engineering was contracted to supply a datalink as a well as a "video grabber", a dedicated bit of hardware that allows the transfer of video material taken by the EOSS to be transmitted to the mothership for further action. Reutech Defence Industries and Saab Grintek Communications Systems provided the HF and V/UHF radios.
The first two aircraft (193 and 194) arrived at Cape Town IAP on Friday 13 July 2007 aboard an An-124, while 191 and 192 arrived on 27 July 2007.
Images:
Downloadable Files:
- Super Lynx 300 brochure.pdf (1332kb)
