- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, today i would like to suggest the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 currently in service with The Royal Navy of The UK.
Simple History
The design and development of the AW159 Wildcat (originally known as the Future Lynx or Lynx Wildcat began in the late 1990s as part of a plan to replace the Westland Lynx.
In 2002 the UK Ministry of Defence launched the “Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) program” for the Royal Navy and the “Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter (BLUH) program” for the British Army. These were later merged into the “Future Lynx program”
On 22 June 2006, AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) was awarded a £1 billion contract to develop and build 70 helicopters, later renamed the AW159 Wildcat in 2009 which is the same time the first AW159 Wildcat Was Produced and Flown.
The AW159 AH1 Variant entered service with The British Army in April 2014 as a Utility Helicopter. This Variant, The AW159 HMA2, Was first delivered to 825 Naval Air Squadron in October 2014 before officially entering service with The Royal Navy in January 2015 with 815 Naval Air Squadron.
The AW159 Wildcat is operational on the Type 23 Duke Class Frigates and Type 45 Daring Class Destroyers
Armament In Detail
Lightweight Multirole Missile - Martlet (LMM Martlet)
The LMM Martlet is a multipurpose missile manufactured by Thales UK. The Martlet can be fired from Sea, Land and Air. The Martlet is a SALOC or IR (can choose) Guided Missile with a Proximity Fuze that travels of a speed at Mach 1.5. The LMM Martlet was designed originally as a anti-surface missile for land and sea targets but was upgraded with a proximity fuze to target air targets and detonates thousands of ball bearings which can penetrate thick steal.
Total weight: 13 kg
Warhead weight: 3 kg
Length: 1.3 m
Diameter: 76 mm
Multi-mode guidance (laser, semi-active laser, infrared)
Speed: Mach 1.5
Range: 9 km
Previous Suggestion for the LMM Martlet for the Stromer
Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile
The Sea Venom is a Over The Horizon Anti-Ship Missile developed by MDBA UK and France.
It Weighs 120kg, 2.5m in Length, and is 200mm in Diameter.
Stingray Torpedo
The Stingray Torpedo is a Lightweight Acoustic Torpedo designed in 1970 and entering service in 1982. It is 2.6m in length, weights 267kg and is 330mm in diameter.
Mk 11 Mod 3 Depth Charges
The Mk 11 depth charge was developed by British Aerospace for air delivery from maritime aircraft and helicopters. The Mk 11 depth charge was designed for shallow water operations against submarines on the surface or at periscope depths.
AW159 Armaments of Other Nations
Republic of Korea Navy & Philippine Navy AW159 Wildcat
4x Spike NLOS
2x M745 Blue Shark
Algerian AW159 Wildcat
4x ZT-6 Makopa ATGMs
Sources
Rafael’s Spike Missiles on Helicopters
Conclusion
In my personal opinion I believe the AW159 HMA2 Royal Navy Helicopter would be a great addition to the British Helicopter Tree especially with the LMM Martlet Missile.
Sources
Explanation of LMM Martlet & Damage
Video of LMM Martlet being fired at ground targets
Video of Royal Navy Testing LMM Martlet against air targets
Video 1 of Thales UK Testing LMM Martlet against sea targets
Video 2 of Thales UK Testing LMM Martlet against sea targets
Royal Navy First Firing of LMM Martlet
History/Details of LMM Martlet
Leonardo AW159 Wildcat Specifications
