First flown on 21 March 1971, the lynx did not fly in production Army Ah.Mk1 form until 1977. The Lynx AH.Mk7 introduced engine and tail rotor changes, and an IR suppressor, while the Ah.Mk9 has a new BERP main rotor and a wheeled undercarriage, like the stillborn Super Lynx or Lynx 3 which flew only in prototype form. Only the British Army, the Royal Marines and the Quatar police use the Army Lynx, apart from a handful in use for experimental and test pilot training duties. The Army Lynx can be used to transport 12 soldiers or Milan ATGM teams, or can be fitted with a roof-mounted TOW sight and up to eight TOW missiles. Alternatively, pintle-mounted machine-guns can be mounted in the cabin doors, and rocket pods, HOT or Hellfire missiles can be mounted on the cabin sides.
Specification: Westland
Lynx AH.Mk7 assault and attack
helicopter
Powerplant:two 846-kW (1135-shp)
Rolls-Royce Gem 42-1
turboshafts
Rotor Diameter: 12.8m (42 ft 0in)
Length: 12.06m (39ft 7in)
Max weight: 4876 kg (10750lb)
Max speed: 306km/h (190mph)
Range: 541 km (336 miles)
Armament: up to eight TOW
missiles in fours on cabin sides,
and/or pintle-mounted machine-guns;
rocket pods and other ATGMs can also be carried