Leonardo has completed the maiden flight of the first of eight upgraded Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B helicopters, featuring new engines and a new glass cockpit.
Leonardo completed the maiden flight of the first of eight upgraded Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B helicopters at its Yeovil facility, in southwest England, on 28th September.
The Super Lynx Mk21B is powered by two new-generation CTS800-4N engines, already used on the Super Lynx 300 and AW159 helicopters, which provide the helicopters with significant performance improvements, especially in hot environments, increasing payload and mission effectiveness.
The first three upgraded helicopters are scheduled for delivery in 2018.
A new glass cockpit is complimented by an advanced avionics suite comprising a tactical processor, satellite based navigation system, civil navigation aids including a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Automatic Identification System (AIS), radar warning receiver/electronic surveillance measures integrated with countermeasures dispensers and a full Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit, together with a new electrically powered rescue hoist.
The Brazilian Navy has been operating Lynx helicopters since 1978. It received the first of nine Super Lynx Mk21As in 1996.