Lynx Mk 88

        The German Navy´s Lynx Mk88 was based on the Royal Navy HAS. Mk3, with the same 10.750lb (4876kg) AUW, and with much the same 1.120shp (836kw) gem 42-2 Mk1011 engines. Like the Danish and Norwegian aircraft, the Mk88s lacked tail rotor folding, although they were always intended to deploy aboard small ships. They normally operate in two-helicopter detachments aboard type F-122 and F-123 frigates, tasked primarily with ASW. Other missions include general reconnaissance, SAR and transport during boarding operations.

        The aircrafts have been updated with four-bags floatation equipment.

        Optimised for ASW duties, the aircraft were fitted with Bendix AN/AQS-18 (v) “dunking sonar”. Nineteen were built for service with Marinefliegergeschwader 3 at Nordholz, serialled between 83+01 and 83+19.

        They were built in three batches of 12, two and five aircrafts. The first of these made its maiden flight o 26 May 1981. Two aircrafts were w/o: 83+01 on 3 December 1993 and 83+16 on 30 January 1994. The 17 survivors are being converted to Super Lynx standards as Mk88A, which involves “re-airframing” the aircraft, together with the incorporation of various new systems.

Super Lynx Mk 88A

        The German Navy ordered seven new-build Super Lynxes under the designation Super Lynx Mk88A, in a £100 million contract signed in September 1996. The first of the new-build Mk88As (83+20) first flew on 1 May 1999. Germany subsequently took options on upgrading its surviving 17 Lynx Mk88 to the same standards, and awarded contracts (worth a further £80 million) in June 1998. This step was taken when it became clear that the European NH90 would be significantly delayed, and that the entire Lynx fleet would be expected to fly on until 2007, and that some aircraft would be required until 2015.

        Eurocopter Germany produce the first “trial installation” conversion using a GKN Westland conversion kit. This aircraft will return to Yeovil for “flight verification” and customer acceptance, but the remaining 16 will not return to UK after being converted by Eurocopter Germany, though these conversion is based on GKN Westland supplied kits. The aircraft is shore-based at Northolz, and will operate from the navy´s Types 122 and 123 frigates.

        The conversions are extremely radical, with existing engines, flying controls, hydraulic systems, avionics and electrical systems being transferred into new-build airframes fitted with the new tail rotor and other key new items of equipment.

        Germany have already ordered advanced composite main rotor blades for its existing Lynxes 8and these were fitted at Squadron level at Northolz). “Re-airframing” offers a short lead-time and relatively inexpensive solution which basically re-life the aircraft.

        The Mk88A is similar to the Brazilian Mk21A, with 360º GEC-Marconi Seaspray 3000 radar, Rockwell Collins GPS, Racal Doppler 91 and RNS 252 INS, but also features and overnose FLIR turret containing a GEC Sensors MST FLIR.

        The aircraft is powered by 1,120shp (836kw) Gem 42-1 engines, and has the bolted main rotor head (11,750lb/5330kg AUW) and composite main rotors. Like the original Mk88, the Mk88A lacks a folding tail rotor pylon.