The Brazilian Navy and Leonardo completed the factory acceptance test for the fourth out of eight upgraded Super Lynx Mk21B helicopters at the end of last year in the UK.
The first two upgraded Super Lynx aircraft were delivered in Feb. 2019. These aircraft have now formally taken over flying duties from the existing Lynx Mk21A, with one operating from the home squadron in Sao Pedro da Aldeia and one has embarked in the Mediterranean on UN duties. The third aircraft was handed over to the navy in May 2020. The remaining four aircraft are being progressively delivered, with the program currently planned for completion by the end of 2022.
The upgraded Lynx helicopters give Brazil’s Naval Aviation a substantial improvement in its capabilities, with much increased aircraft performance and mission effectiveness. The maiden flight of the Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B took place in Sep. 2017 at Leonardo’s Yeovil site.
There is a resident onsite Brazilian Navy team (the ‘GFRLynx Team’), who have been present in Yeovil since 2015. Consisting of a total of nine naval personnel from the HA-1 Lynx Squadron, it is headed by a naval captain, and supported by a mix of commissioned and non-commissioned officers.
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 aircraft with major performance improvements, especially in hot environments, increasing payload and mission effectiveness.
A new glass cockpit is complimented by an advanced avionics suite comprising of 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 Lynx helicopters for more than four decades. There are currently more than 190 of Leonardo’s helicopters operating in Brazil, performing a variety of missions, including corporate/private transport, law enforcement, public services, offshore transport, search and rescue and naval applications.
