Maiden Flight of Modernized Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B Helicopter

Leonardo has conducted the maiden flight of the first of eight modernized Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B helicopters at its Yeovil facility, in southwest England, on 28th September 2017.

The upgraded Lynx helicopters will give Brazil’s Naval Aviation a significant improvement in its capabilities, with much increased aircraft performance and mission effectiveness.

The Super Lynx Mk21B is powered by two new generation CTS800-4N engines, already used on the Super Lynx 300 and the AW159 helicopters, which provide the helicopters with major performance improvements, especially in hot environments, increasing payload and mission effectiveness.

A new glass cockpit will be complimented by an advanced avionic 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 variants of the Lynx helicopter for nearly 40 years having received nine Lynx Mk21 helicopters in 1978. In July 1996 the Brazilian Navy received the first of nine Super Lynx Mk21A aircraft.

It also upgraded five of its original Lynx Mk21 aircraft to Mk21A standard under the same contract, becoming the first export customer to undertake the Lynx to Super Lynx upgrade.

The Brazilian Navy uses the Super Lynx Mk21A as a multi-role helicopter in variety role including: observation, surface attack, target monitoring, over-the-horizon targeting, vectored attacks on submarines, electronic warfare, special operations, troop transportation, mine hunting, search and rescue, aero medical evacuation, humanitarian tasks and photographic surveying.