A fast utility helicopter family with major naval anti-submarine and anti-ship combat variants.
Development
Westland Lynx was developed by Westland Aircraft Works in United Kingdom as a maritime-combat aircraft. The family first flew in 1971 and entered service in 1977. Its recorded airframe configuration is rotorcraft, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, Westland Lynx is represented primarily in the maritime-combat aircraft role. The sourced variant records include service with Fleet Air Arm. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include anti ship.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include Lynx HAS.2, Lynx AH.1, Lynx HAS.3, Lynx HAS.8 development, and Lynx HMA.8.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynx AH.1 | Production | Maritime Combat | Fleet Air Arm |
| Lynx HAS.2 | Production | Maritime Combat | Fleet Air Arm |
| Lynx HAS.3 | Production | Maritime Combat | Fleet Air Arm |
| Lynx HAS.8 development | Prototype | Maritime Combat | Fleet Air Arm |
| Lynx HMA.8 | Production | Maritime Combat | Fleet Air Arm |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
Lynx HAS.2 — C015 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 2
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Gem turboshafts
Armament: Torpedoes, depth charges, and anti-ship missiles on naval variants.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1974-75 — Sampson Low, Marston & Co. · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-85 — Jane’s Publishing Company · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1990-91 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994-95 — Jane's Information Group · Tier 3