APPLYING TECHNOLOGY FOR COST EFFECTIVE UPGRADES

Today’s military helicopter market is being influenced by the changing world order and the consequent demand for a peace dividend. With the "soft" focusing of the east-west threat, the onus is now more on Out-of-Area Operations and Rapid Reaction Forces. These pressures are modifying the market’s requirements towards more role flexibility and ever increasing demands for improved cost effectiveness. The implications of these changes are briefly discussed regarding the effect on helicopter design philosophy and requirements. The development of the Lynx helicopter demonstrates one Westland approach to satisfying modern market requirements, involving the continued upgrading of an existing product. The paper illustrates this by describing three major Lynx technology developments and the benefits they provide in satisfying the customers' current and future potential needs. These developments are the Composite Main Rotor Blade, the LHTEC T800 engine installation and the Central Tactical System.