Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 2008 · helicopter

The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is the Canadian Armed Forces' maritime helicopter, a specially modified variant of the S-92 designed for anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue from Canadian naval vessels.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	20.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Canadian naval maritime helicopter — derivative of S-92
Four-blade main rotor with folding blades for shipboard operations
Chin-mounted search radar and dipping sonar

Resembles the S-92 but with a prominent chin radome, blade-fold for shipboard stowage, sponsons carrying sonobuoys, and a drab naval grey colour scheme.

Specifications

The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone has a length of 20.9 m (69 ft).
It has a wingspan of 17.71 m (58 ft).
Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
Typical crew: 2 pilots + 2 sensor operators.

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

History

Selected to replace the ancient Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King, the CH-148 had a very troubled development history marked by years of delays and contractual disputes. First flown in 2008, it finally began reaching operational status with the Royal Canadian Navy around 2018.

Variants

The CH-148 is a dedicated military variant of the civilian S-92; it features folding rotor blades, a chin radar, dipping sonar, and weapons capability not present on civil examples.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by the Royal Canadian Air Force embarked on Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigates and Queenston-class destroyers for ASW, SAR, and utility missions.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.