New Lynx Helicopters Boost Air Support In Afghanistan | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.05.25

Airborne-NextGen-05.06.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.07.25

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.02.25

Thu, May 27, 2010

New Lynx Helicopters Boost Air Support In Afghanistan

Missions Include Convoy Overwatch, Recon, Troop Movements

Upgraded British Army Lynx Mk9A helicopters have arrived for use in Afghanistan after being shipped from the UK, and are already being put to good use. The Lynx Mk9As, with their increased fire power, more powerful engines, and the ability to operate all year in the harsh 'hot and high' Afghan environment, have increased the total number of flying hours available to commanders.

The stripped-down helicopters were transported by C-17 Globemaster aircraft from RAF Brize Norton to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. There, the rotor blades were fitted and familiarization flights took place before operational sorties began in earnest earlier this month. The Lynx Mk9A is also fitted with a more advanced communication system, improved surveillance equipment and the M3M machine gun - a 0.50-calibre weapon capable of firing over 850 rounds per minute.

The new helicopters are already performing a wide range of front line tasks, including convoy overwatch, support helicopter escort, reconnaissance and surveillance, and the movement of forces. "We are now in Afghanistan, playing an important role in protecting our ground forces and carrying out surveillance, boosting performance in Afghanistan's challenging conditions," said Major Max Lytle, Army Air Corps, Officer Commanding 672 Squadron.

The upgraded Lynx joins the other aircraft in Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) [JHF(A)], commanded from Camp Bastion. This Force comprises helicopters from all three Services operating to support the multinational coalition effort, including Chinooks, Merlins, Apaches and Sea Kings. "They are an extremely valuable addition to the UK helicopter force and the modifications they carry make them an extremely effective platform," said Wing Commander 'Spats' Paterson RAF, the Commanding Officer of JHF(A).

Army aircrews undertook extensive pre-deployment flight training on the new aircraft in Kenya to gain flying experience in similar 'hot and high' conditions before the start of their first operational tours in the Lynx Mk9A.

FMI: www.army.mod.uk

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.05.25): Circle To Runway (Runway Number)

Circle To Runway (Runway Number) Used by ATC to inform the pilot that he/she must circle to land because the runway in use is other than the runway aligned with the instrument appr>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.05.25)

Aero Linx: National Aviation Safety Foundation (NASF) The National Aviation Safety Foundation is a support group whose objective is to enhance aviation safety through educational p>[...]

NTSB Prelim: De Havilland DHC-1

At Altitude Of About 250-300 Ft Agl, The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power On November 6, 2024, at 1600 central standard time, a De Havilland DHC-1, N420TD, was inv>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: The Boeing Dreamliner -- Historic First Flight Coverage

From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Three Hour Flight Was 'Flawless' -- At Least, Until Mother Nature Intervened For anyone who loves the aviation business, this was a VERY good day. Afte>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.06.25: AF Uncrewed Fighters, Drones v Planes, Joby Crew Test

Also: AMA Names Tyler Dobbs, More Falcon 9 Ops, Firefly Launch Unsuccessful, Autonomous F-16s The Air Force has begun ground testing a future uncrewed jet design in a milestone tow>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC