AW159 Wildcat

The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat (previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat) is a military helicopter, developed by the British-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, and later marketed by the Italian aerospace company Leonardo. It is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx designed to serve in the battlefield utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), utility, command and control, and troop transport duties. Development commenced during the early 2000s under the name Future Lynx to replace the existing Lynx helicopters then operated by both the Royal Navy and British Army. Refurbishment and upgrading of the existing first generation Lynx airframes was evaluated but found to be uneconomical in comparison to producing a new generation airframe. Various new electronics and avionics systems were incorporated, including a glass cockpit, onboard integrated digital open systems architecture, Bowman communications system, and various mission systems. The Wildcat also features numerous airframe improvements, such as the redesigned tail rotor and nose, greater structural strength, and a longer lifespan of 12,000 flight hours. New munitions, such as the Martlet air-to-surface missile and the Sea Venom anti-ship missile, were also integrated. The Wildcat performed its maiden flight on 12 November 2009. On 29 August 2014, the Wildcat AH1 formally entered service with the Army Air Corps; in early 2015, the Fleet Air Arm's first Wildcat HMA2 commenced its initial operational deployment at sea. Within five years, both services had withdrawn the last Lynx helicopters in favour of the Wildcat. The rotorcraft is also marketed towards export customers; overseas operators include the Republic of Korea Navy and the Philippine Navy.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.