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Until the introduction of Apache, Lynx was
the helicopter used by the British Army to counter the threat posed by
enemy armoured formations.
Armed with 8 x TOW missiles, the Lynx was the mainstay of the British
armed helicopter fleet.
With the introduction into service of the Apache AH Mk 1 Lynx is now
only used as a utility helicopter providing fire support using machine
guns, troop lifts, casualty evacuation and many more vital support
battlefield tasks.
Although the total Lynx inventory is 112
aircraft we believe that there are currently 99 available (77 Lynx Mark 7
and 22 Lynx Mark 9).
Lynx is known to be in service with France, Brazil,
Argentina, The Netherlands, Qatar, Denmark, Norway, West Germany and
Nigeria. The naval version carries anti-ship missiles.
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LYNX AH MARK 7/9 Specifications |
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112 in
service |
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Length Fuselage |
12.06m |
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Height |
3.4m |
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Rotor Diameter |
12.8m |
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Max Speed |
330km/h |
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Cruising Speed |
232km/h |
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Range |
885km |
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Engines |
2 x Rolls-Royce Gem 41 |
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Power |
2 x 850bhp |
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Fuel Capacity |
918 litres (internal) |
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Weight (max take off) |
4,763kg |
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Crew |
1 pilot, 1 air-gunner/observer |
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Armament |
8 x TOW Anti-Tank Missiles
2-4
x 7.62mm machine guns |
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Passengers |
able to carry 10 x PAX |
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Combat radius |
approximately 100kms with 2-hour loiter |
TOW 2B (Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided, Anti-Tank
Missile)
TOW is the US system that has been adopted
for use on the Lynx anti tank helicopter.
First seen in US service in l965 TOW is a very powerful system that
can defeat the armour on all conventional MBTs.
It is also a second generation missile in that the operator no longer
‘flies’ the missile to the target using a control stick. All the
operator needs to do is keep the aiming mark on the target and the
guidance system will do the rest. AAC Lynx are fitted with the roof
mounted stabilised M65 sight.
TOW 2B is the top attack version of the missile system and these
systems in AAC service are being upgraded under the Further Improved
Tow Programme which enhances both range (possibly 5,000m) and armour
penetration.
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TOW 2B Specifications |
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Length |
1.17m |
| Diameter |
15cm |
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Speed |
1127km/h (200mps) |
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Max
Range |
3750m |
| Warhead |
3.9kg shaped charge high explosive HEAP |
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Missile
Weight |
28.1kg |
| Guidance |
Automatic command to line of sight |
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Armour Penetration |
800mm |
Photos Crown Copyright
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