AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat

AgustaWestland · United Kingdom · first flew 2009 · helicopter

The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat is a twin-engine naval helicopter developed as the successor to the Lynx for the British armed forces. It combines anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and utility capabilities in a modern composite airframe.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	15.24 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin-engine naval utility and anti-submarine helicopter
Foldable main rotor blades for shipboard stowage
Distinctive wheeled undercarriage for deck operations

Compact naval helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor; foldable tail and rotor blades, wheeled undercarriage, and twin Rolls-Royce/LHTEC CTS800 turboshafts distinguish it from the older Lynx.

Specifications

The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat has a length of 15.24 m (50 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
Its maximum speed is 311 km/h (193 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from the Super Lynx 300 baseline, the AW159 first flew in 2009 and entered service with the Royal Navy and British Army in 2015. It was designed specifically to operate from frigates and destroyers in high sea states.

Variants

HMA Mk.2 (Royal Navy, anti-submarine/anti-surface), AH Mk.1 (British Army, utility/reconnaissance); South Korea operates a navalized export version.

Where you'll see it

In active service with the Royal Navy and British Army; exported to South Korea. A genuinely British-origin helicopter with front-line UK service relevance.

Related aircraft

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