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The Pilots Desk
Helicoptersmulti-role ship-board naval helicopter

CH-148 Cyclone

CH-148 Cyclone

The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is a twin-engine, multi-role shipborne helicopter developed by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation for the Canadian Armed Forces. A military variant of the Sikorsky S-92, the CH-148 is designed for shipboard operations and replaced the CH-124 Sea King, which was in Canadian Armed Forces operation from 1963 to 2018. The Cyclone entered operational service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2018 and now conducts anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, and search and rescue missions from Royal Canadian Navy frigates. The helicopter also performs utility and transport roles in support of national and international security efforts. In 2004, Canada awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a contract for 28 CH-148s with deliveries originally planned to start in 2009. Deliveries were repeatedly delayed due to development issues and difficulty fulfilling contract requirements; the first deliveries, involving six initial helicopters (designated as Block 1), occurred during June 2015. Three years later, the Cyclone Block 2 achieved initial operating capability (IOC). The fleet was briefly grounded in early 2020 following a crash that was attributed to poor documentation and software flaws.

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

Category
Helicopters
Country of origin
United States
First flight
2008-11-15
Length
20.9 m

Specifications

Cruise speed
137 kt
Max speed
165 kt
Service ceiling
15,000 ft
Max takeoff weight
29,300 lb
Empty weight
15,600 lb
Powerplant
2 × General Electric CT7-8A7 turboshaft engines
Engines
2
Seats
10
Length
56.2 ft
Wingspan
58.1 ft
Height
15.4 ft
Number built
28

Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.