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RAF
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Abbreviations


 

Armed Forces - a7a8 - Army Aviation - Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter BRH formerly Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter

ARMY AVIATION

BATTLEFIELD RECONNAISSANCE HELICOPTER (BRH)

           

Artist's Impression of the new Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter also known as the Future Lynx or FLynx


 

In time the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (formerly known as the Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter) will replace the capability currently provided by the Gazelle AH 1 and Lynx Mk 7 and Lynx Mk 9.

The UK MoD announced in 2006 that the UK's Armed Forces will receive 70 of the highly advanced BRH (sometimes known as Future Lynx) helicopters which will be used for everything from battlefield reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and troop transport, to detecting and destroying fast naval attack craft.

The contract provides 40 aircraft for the AAC and 30 for the Royal Navy. The contract also provides an option for a further 10 aircraft, possibly five for the Army and five for the Navy.

The new aircraft are expected to enter service from 2014 and will incorporate a range of technological improvements including: configurable cockpit display, networked enabled capability, more powerful engines, better defensive aids and a new tail rotor system. Technology improvements mean that the aircraft will have greater reliability, resulting in significant reductions to support and maintenance costs over life of the aircraft which will stay in service for 30 years.

Aircraft will be built by Augusta Westland and the the contract is expected to cost in the region of £1 billion (about £14 million per aircraft).


Photo Courtesy AugustaWestland