Hansard

Future Lynx Helicopters

Volume 496: debated on Monday 20 July 2009

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Mr. Carswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the first Future Lynx helicopters to enter service; (287236)

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the procurement of Future Lynx helicopters;

(3) what his policy is on proceeding with the Future Lynx contract.

Mr. Quentin Davies

There are two variants of the Future Lynx aircraft which is now known as the Lynx Wildcat. The first aircraft is due to enter service in January 2012, leading to an initial operating capability in 2014 for the Army’s Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH) and in 2015 for the Royal Navy’s Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR). A contract has been agreed with AgustaWestland for the procurement of 62 Lynx Wildcat aircraft. The total cost of the demonstration and manufacture of the project is forecast to be some £1.7 billion.